Suffolk: Luke Durbin Investigation

14 May 2012, 05:49 | Updated: 14 May 2012, 08:19

Six years on from the disappearance of a Suffolk teenager, detectives are continuing with their investigation and are determined to find out what has happened to him.

19-year-old Luke Durbin was reported missing to Suffolk Police by his mother, Nicki, on Saturday 13th May 2006.

Luke had spent the evening of Thursday 11th May, through to the early hours of Friday 12th May with friends in Ipswich and failed to return to his home address in Hollesley, near Woodbridge.

In November 2010, detectives from the Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team took on the investigation and have carried out a thorough review of the case and also taken on new lines of enquiry.

Detective Chief Inspector John Brocklebank who is leading this investigation said: "During our enquiries we have been able to build a picture of Luke's lifestyle, who his friends and associates were, where he went and who he used to phone regularly.  All of this information helps us understand how he lived his life and more importantly who he had regular contact with.

Each time we have issued renewed appeals for information we have received new intelligence in relation to Luke, every piece of information, however small or insignificant it may seem, has and will be followed up in order to piece together what has happened to him."

Officers from the investigation team with the assistance of specialist search teams have searched railway lines leading from Ipswich to Woodbridge, the route police believe Luke may have taken, and searched an area surrounding Foxhall Stadium, near Ipswich where someone reported they saw Luke. An address in Ipswich has also been searched.

New CCTV footage of Luke seen in Cardinal Park Ipswich has been reviewed and released to the public in the hope that it would trigger someone's memory from the night in question.

The CCTV footage shows Luke with one of his friends approaching a taxi at around four minutes past midnight on Friday 12 May.
A replica of the top worn by Luke on the night he went missing has also been released and a photograph of it shown to people living in Woodbridge and Ipswich when extensive house-to-house enquiries were carried out.

"I am determined to find out what has happened to Luke; where he went after he was last seen and the possibility that he has been unlawfully killed." Continued DCI Brocklebank.

"From the enquiries we have made so far, I know someone locally knows what has happened to Luke, that person needs to come forward. I wouldn't want to have withholding vital information on my conscience, knowing it could help solve this investigation. 

Anyone who has concerns about coming forward can always call one of the enquiry officers or Crimestoppers and speak to them in confidence.

Well over 100 people have been spoken to so far on this case and it appears that information is being withheld from us. Our leads have taken us around the county and we have also sought assistance from the Metropolitan Police who have helped us with enquiries in London.
The net is closing in and we will find out what has happened to Luke so we can at least give some sort of closure to his family who desperately want to know what has happened to him."

Luke is described as white, 5ft 10inches tall, of slim build, with short brown coloured wavy hair and blue eyes. At the time of his disappearance he was wearing a black collared shirt under a grey long sleeved sweatshirt, blue jeans and brown suede shoes.

Anyone who has any information in relation to Luke's disappearance should contact the Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

DCI John Brocklebank Speaks To Heart's Holly Jones

Timeline:

11 May 2006 - Luke spends the evening in Ipswich with friends

12 May 2006 - CCTV images capture Luke in Cardinal Park, Ipswich at 12.04am.

12 May 2006 - CCTV images capture Luke inside Hawk Express Taxi rank, Old Foundry Road, Ipswich at 3.30am.

12 May 2006 - CCTV images capture Luke near to the Bus Station, Dogs Head Street, Ipswich at 4am. 

13 May 2006 - Report of Luke being seen in Woodbridge in a dark blue Renault Megane being driven by a black man.

This sighting was between 11am and 2pm on Saturday 13 May near to the rear entrance to the Turban Centre car park on Quay Side, Woodbridge.

13 May 2006 - Luke reported missing to Suffolk Police.

CCTV still from Hawk Express taxi rank (Friday 12 CCTV still from outside the bus station in IpswichLuke Durbin Cardinal ParkReplica sweatshirt worn by Luke on the evening he Replica sweatshirt worn by Luke on the evening he Missing 19 year old Luke Durbin