Girl spotted with rape suspect on ferry
Ferry Online Travel News 22/01/2009
A missing schoolgirl has been seen on a ferry to France with the man she met on the Internet.
Police are reporting that they believe 15-year-old Laura Stainforth, of Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, is still with the 49-year-old man she met on the Internet.
A photographic image of Laura and Robert Williams, who is also known as Dave Ingram, taken on a crossing from Dover to France on Thursday afternoon of last week, was released by the Pride of Kent ferry.
Humberside police have said that Williams, brought up in Falkirk by adoptive parents, was arrested last December for the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl. They also noted that he had been released on bail while the incident was being investigated.
An international search was initiated when the girl vanished with Williams from her home one week ago. Laura Stainforth was last seen when she left her home to go to the shops on Wednesday afternoon of last week at around 3.30pm.
Police are not sure at this time if the two are still in France or if they have moved on to another location in Europe.
On Wednesday, Debra and Robert Stainforth, the girl’s parents, released a statement through the police that said in part: “To Laura, this message comes from mam and dad. Please contact us as we miss you.”
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