Police fears for 20-year-old postman who vanished

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Missing James Bennion: Police fears for 20-year-old postman who vanished two days ago after Liverpool night out

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mi ... rs-2911012" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Worried family and friends hand out missing posters and search city for James who has not been seen since the early hours of Sunday morning



Police are becoming increasingly concerned for the safety of a 20-year-old man who vanished on a night out with pals in Liverpool.

James Bennion has not been seen since the early hours of Sunday morning after becoming separated from friends.

His devastated sister, Aimee, has tweeted about his disappearance saying: "If anyone has seen or heard from my brother since Saturday could you please let me know."

She later wrote: "Just don't know what to do with myself, can't actually believe what's happened", before tweeting her brother directly: "@bunyon15 please be home in the morning."

James has never gone missing before and his close friend, Millie Hopkins, who was with him on the Saturday night, said everybody was "worried sick".

She told Mirror.co.uk: "We are all so shocked. It's completely out of character. What we just don't understand is how he can simply vanish without a trace and nobody knows anything about it.

"As time goes on we are all getting more and more concerned.

"James , please get in touch and come home."

James had spent the evening in Baa Bar before walking friends to a taxi in Concert Square at about 3am.

Millie said that the plan was then for him to then join her and a friend at Garlands nightclub but James never showed up.

The 19-year-old added: "He asked us to call him in the evening and when we spoke he was fine. He said he was joining us later at the club. When he didn't turn up we waited an hour for him before going home.

"The next day we went over to his house and nobody knew where he was."

Friends and family spent last night handing out missing posters in the city centre and arranged search groups to look for James.

James, who lives in the Wavertree area and is known to have links to the Ellesmere Port and Chester areas, is described as being white, 5ft 9in tall, of a slim build with short brown hair. He has a pale complexion and blue eyes.

He was last seen wearing a navy blue t-shirt with a picture of a record and the word ‘record’ in grey writing printed on the front of it and dark jeans.

Officers would urge anyone who has seen James since Sunday 8 December to contact Merseyside Police on either 0151 777 5337 or via the 101 number, or Missing People on 116000.

[justdeno]

Hope he's found safe and well.

[feduppostie]

sad to say it seems from my friends in Liverpool that the police have found a body in the docks :-(

No confirmation yet and let's hope it is not him - but it is still a body and a family without a loved one this Xmas

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Police searching for missing James Bennion find a body in Liverpool's Albert Dock

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ja ... nd-2919477" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

James has not been seen since the early hours of Sunday morning after becoming separated from friends on a night out

Police searching for missing 20-year-old James Bennion have found a body in Liverpool's Albert Dock.

Divers have been combing the area since yesterday.

A body, which has yet to be identified, was pulled from the water this afternoon, the Liverpool Echo reports.

It is believed to have been found in the dock close to Tate Liverpool.

Merseyside Police have informed the family of James Bennion of the discovery but formal identification of the body is not expected to be confirmed until Friday.

James has not been seen since the early hours of Sunday morning after becoming separated from friends on a night out.

The underwater search came after new CCTV was discovered showing the postman walking near the Liverpool one bus exchange at around 4.30am.

The new footage is more than an hour later than the last previous confirmed sighting of James, which was in the Concert Square area of the city centre after he left Baa Bar on Fleet Street.

Police also said they were keen to speak to a woman who said she saw and spoke with James at about 6am on Sunday outside the Lemon and Lime takeaway in Dale Street.

The latest developments came as his mum described her “living nightmare” and made an emotional appeal for her son to come home.

In a direct appeal to James, Julie Bennion said: “We love you so much, just come home to us.”

James, who lives in the Wavertree area and is originally from Ellesmere Port, left Baa Bar in Concert Square at around 3am on Sunday.

He was due to meet friends at Garlands nightclub in Eberle Street but never turned up, although he is understood to have left a voicemail at around 4.20am.

Worried family and friends have been handing out missing posters and searching the city for James since his disappearance.

[feduppostie]

Quite sad this thread has not had more replies

looks like we have lost a colleague in a tragic way

my heart goes out to his family and his workmates if this is indeed confirmed

20 is no age

[fishtank]

Quite sad this thread has not had more replies

It's possibly a very sad story and we don't know the full facts yet.
There isn't much else to say that wouldn't be a bit crass and a bit premature.

[feduppostie]

I agree to a point given the recent news

however my observation was perhaps more about the original news of him missing and the lack of replies - I should have been clearer and I apologise

[doorstepped]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liv ... er-6401386" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tributes paid to James Bennion after body found in dock
12 Dec 2013 21:08

His body was removed from the the Albert Dock at around 2.30pm, sparking a huge outpouring of grief


Hundreds of people are paying tribute to 20-year-old James Bennion who was found dead after a frantic four-day search.

His body was removed from the the Albert Dock at around 2.30pm, sparking a huge outpouring of grief.

Family and friends had also been out searching for the young postman since his disappearance, with posters being handed out and put up around the city centre and a large-scale campaign launched through social media.

Following the recovery of his body, believed to be near to the Tate, police said they were not due to carry out formal identification until tomorrow.

His sister Aimee paid tribute on Twitter.

At the time of writing, hundreds of people had joined a Facebook page set up in James’ memory.

Video: Floral tribute at Albert Dock

Friends Zoe Newbolt, 17, and Alan Clarke, 18, who both went to school with James at Whitby High School in Ellesmere visited the dock to pay tribute.

Zoe said: “It’s just tragic. You see it on the news happening to other people, but you don’t think that it would happen to someone that you know.

“We have come here to light candles for him here. He was a good person.”

Alan said: “We went to the Leeds and the V festivals with him and he made the festival for everyone. There are about 50 people in our group (of friends) and no one ever said a bad word about him. He got on really well with everyone. His mates are from Chester and Ellesmere Port mainly. He has worked for Royal Mail (in Liverpool) for about a year.

“I saw James two weeks ago and I had a beer with him. He was his usual self – a bubbly person.”

James, of Wavertree but originally from Ellesmere Port, had been due to meet friends at Garlands after leaving Baa Bar on Fleet Street at around 3am on Sunday but never turned up.

The search switched to the Albert Dock on Wednesday after James was identified on CCTV footage walking near the Liverpool One bus interchange at around 4.30am.

That footage was more than an hour later than the last previous confirmed sighting of James, which was in the Concert Square area of the city centre after he left Baa Bar.

Police divers spent several hours at the docks on Wednesday, and the search resumed this morning with police divers again taking to the water in the area near the Tate.

A cordon remained in place during the search on either side of Hartley bridge, which connects the Maritime museum to the Tate.

A large truck from the North West Underwater Search and Marine Unit – one of the partner agencies involved – was also stationed outside the museum during the operation.

But the cordon was taken down at around 3.30pm.

And a spokesman for Merseyside police said: “Merseyside Police can confirm that a body has been recovered from the water in Albert Dock.

“At this stage the body has not been formally identified.”

Floral tributes for James Bennion at Albert Dock Floral tributes for James Bennion at Albert Dock

James was described as an “amazing fella who touched everyone in some way” in a series of touching tributes.

Friends – as well as those who didn’t know him but were following the search – left heartfelt tributes to him across social media sites.

Alice Owen posted: “You are one amazing fella who touched everyone in some way, I love u so much!”

Debi Gayle wrote: “It is believed the body found in the Albert docks is that of my ex pupil James Bennion.

“I have fond memories of James from Whitby High School.

“My deepest condolences to your lovely family.

“I know the pain of the loss of a son.....you are in my thought at this sad sad time....i am so sorry for your loss....R.I.P. James....life is so unfair.....God bless....xxxxxxxx”

Another friend, Evie Watson, wrote: “Can’t believe it. one of the nicest lads I’ve ever come across, you will be missed by so many mate rest in peace.”

[maisymoo04]

Rip James

[freelunch]

Sad news, our thoughts to his family at this time.
R.I.P. James

[postypie]

R.I.P Sir.

[bustedflush]

Sorry to hear this. thoughts to his family this Christmas RIP.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Yes a very sad day for all colleagues, but more especially his mates and of course family. They will remain in my prayers.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/rip-jam ... on.htmlRIP" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; James Bennion

13th December 2013

The CWU sends their heartfelt condolences to the family of Chester postman, James Bennion, after his body was recovered from the Albert Dock in Liverpool yesterday (Thursday).

20-year old James, an OPG at Chester Mail Centre, went missing in the early hours of Monday morning and was last seen on CCTV footage near the Liverpool One bus interchange.

"James was a popular lad in the Mail Centre. He was full of energy and enthusiasm. His death comes as a huge shock to all of us in the office and we send our deepest sympathies to his family and friends at this time," said CWU area processing rep Dave Skingsley.

"James worked with his father, also a CWU member, at the Mail Centre so his loss resonates with all of us. We will be starting a collection to assist with funeral costs and invite all CWU branches who would like to make a contribution to get in touch," said Dave.

Please contact Dave on 07870 705 458 or email david@davidskingsley.wanadoo.co.uk.

Tributes have been placed near the site at the Albert Dock where James' body was found and across social media there has been an outpouring of sympathy.

[feduppostie]

Horrible news RIP my thoughts are with the family and friends