Mum 'certain' son missing for 10 years 'is out there somewhere'

A mum whose son vanished without trace 10 years ago says she is "never giving up hope" he will reach out and end the family's agonising decade-long nightmare.

Tracey Graham said time stopped for her family when her son, Shane, from St Annes, Lancashire, disappeared and nothing has been the same since.

He was 26 and a landscape gardener, working for an artificial grass company and living with his girlfriend, when he was last seen on 29 April 2016, she said.

Tracey said she "yearns" for him every single day but was "certain he is out there somewhere" and urged him to let her know he was OK.

She said Shane was last seen walking down Eddington Road after working at a house on Ansdell Road, close to Fairhaven Lake, in Lytham St Annes.

About £300 rent money had been left in his flat along with his wallet.

Since then, there has been nothing.

Lancashire Police became involved and carried out numerous extensive enquiries, but to no avail, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Tracey, husband Ron and Shane's sister Carissa, all originally from Torbay in Devon, only have hope left.

Tracey, 64, said: "As a mother, I yearn and pine to know he's OK, every single day, all of the years since he went missing.

"In my heart, I feel certain he is out there somewhere.

"I feel like he has had something he is worried about and he couldn't bring himself to tell us, and somehow it has escalated."

She said: "If he thinks he has done something wrong, he doesn't need to explain anything at all.

"We just need to know he is safe – if he has chosen his own path, that is OK."

After he disappeared the family grilled his girlfriend, desperate to know anything that could shed light on his baffling disappearance.

Tracey said: "It was awful for her, we thought she must know something, anything, that could explain what had happened.

"But she didn't know anything. She went through a terrible time as well."

Tracey also has some news for Shane.

She and Ron have got back together after splitting up several years before Shane disappeared.

In their shared heartbreak, they have grown closer over the years.

Tracey said she will never give up and continues to live in hope that Shane will break his long silence, even if it is by contacting the police.

Lancashire Police said any new information would be fully investigated.

Tracey added: "Shane, if you see this, please let us know you are OK."

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