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Dogs and drones to be deployed as hunt for Sarah Wellgreen, last seen in New Ash Green, continues this weekend

15:31, 30 November 2018

updated: 15:59, 30 November 2018

Dogs and drones are set to be deployed this weekend to continue the search for missing mum Sarah Wellgreen.

The beautician was last seen in the Bazes Shaw area of New Ash Green on Tuesday, October 9.

Around 80 people from the Kent Search and Rescue team will be helping police with their continued search for the mother-of-five.

Sarah Jane Wellgreen has disappeared, picture Kent Police (5720189)
Sarah Jane Wellgreen has disappeared, picture Kent Police (5720189)

Operations officers Stewart Baird said: "We will be deploying around 80 Search and Rescue Officers including dogs and drones over the weekend to assist in the search for Sarah.

"There are large areas to cover and as such this is a significant search operation."

Police spokesman Martin Very added: "Officers are continuing to search a number of areas in west Kent in connection with the disappearance and potential murder of Sarah Wellgreen."

Her boyfriend, Neil James, 45, from Farnham, who has made weekly appeals to bring his partner home shared a photo from the Searching for Sarah Wellgreen Facebook page earlier today.

Neil James, 45, has made a plea on his Facebook for people with CCTV footage to send it in to police. Photo: Facebook. (5720214)
Neil James, 45, has made a plea on his Facebook for people with CCTV footage to send it in to police. Photo: Facebook. (5720214)

He wrote: "Let’s hope our Sarah is brought back to her children, loving family members, friends, me and my family soon."

The 46-year-old's disappearance is being treated as a potential murder by detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

Head of major crime Det Supt Paul Fotheringham said: "It is entirely out of character for her to go missing and having conducted extensive inquiries and searches, this case is now being treated as a potential murder.

"She just had a job offer she was looking forward to. She talked to friends about looking forward to the future and significantly she has just missed one of her child's birthdays.

PHOTO:STEVE FINN
PHOTO:STEVE FINN

"Sarah has disappeared without a trace, the only item missing from the home is her black iPhone 4.

"Officers have conducted extensive searches in New Ash Green and surrounding rural areas.

"While we continue our investigation and inquiries, I would urge anybody who saw anything suspicious in the New Ash Green area at around the time Sarah went missing, that is overnight from the evening of Tuesday, October 9, into the morning of Wednesday, October 10, to contact us.

The search for Miss Wellgreen enters it's third month tomorrow as officers continue to search various location in north Kent, including woodlands around her home.

Her son Lewis Burdett said the past month has been a "never ending nightmare" for the family as they wait for her return.

Miss Wellgreen's ex-partner Ben Lacomba was arrested shortly after the mother went missing and released on bail.

He returned to police on Friday, November 16 - a month after he was arrested - and had his bail extended until the New Year.

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