No charges likely over Nicola Payne hoaxer

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Police say it is “highly unlikely” that anyone will be charged with wasting police time over the latest attempt to find missing mum Nicola Payne.



Last week, at the end of the four-day hunt for the Coventry 18-year-old who vanished 20 years ago, Detective Superintendent Richard Barker said the informant may be charged.

But in an effort to ensure that anyone else with information isn’t put off coming forward, the force says that is now unlikely.

A spokeswoman did say a charge could not be totally discounted though.

She added: “We would always encourage people to come forward with fresh information to find out how Nicola disappeared.”

The latest search for Nicola – who went missing on December 14, 1991 – came to a halt last week after searches on land off Purcell Road, Courthouse Green, and at a property in Miles Meadow, Bell Green, drew a blank.

Two men arrested in connection with the investigation, aged 74 and 45, were both released from custody.

The 45-year-old remains on police bail.

Wasting police time carries a maximum prison sentence of six months and a fine of £2,500.

Police have so far declined to say why they restarted the hunt for Nicola, other than stating that “new information” had come to light.

They focused their search on alarge swathe of land in Courthouse Green, cutting back foliage beforecadaver dogs and officers withmetal detectors started sweeping the area.

The garden of a nearby property in Miles Meadow was also dug up as the hunt for Nicola continued.

Not a trace of the missing teenager was found though.

After revealing the lack of progress Det Supt Baker said: “This was not about raising false hope – we have a responsibility to investigate fresh lines of inquiry and will continue to assess and act on all information provided to us.”

Speaking to the Telegraph, Nicola’s dad John said the lack of progress during the search had been a “massive blow”.

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Suspect in Nicola Payne enquiry released without charge

DETECTIVES investigating the disappearance of Nicola Payne in Coventry have released a man arrested six weeks ago without charge.

The 45-year-old was on police bail while officers continued their enquiries into Nicola’s disappearance in December 1991. He was released today (2 August) after consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service.

The arrest came as officers, acting on new information, searched an area of parkland off Purcell Road in Coventry in June, however, the search failed to reveal any new evidence.

Detective Inspector Martin Slevin, who is leading the investigation, said: "The investigation is still very much ongoing and we are following up lines of enquiry which came from members of the public following the recent appeals for information.

"We hope that anyone who has any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem and who has not come forward, will do so now."

Detectives can be contacted by calling 101 or information can be given anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.