The teenage son of a man who disappeared when he was just three-years-old has spoken of growing up without his father.

Karl Hotchkiss, 19, is desperate to find out what happened to his father – also called Karl – after he went missing 16 year ago.

The welder and former boxer, then 24, disappeared from his Northfleet home over Easter 1993 and has not been seen since.

Now a team of cold case detectives have re-opened their files to try to discover why Mr Hotchkiss – known as Bert – vanished.

Karl Jnr, who lives in Gravesend, said: "I am absolutely devastated about my dad because I have grown up without any memory of him and I have no idea what happened to him."

Mr Hotchkiss was last seen in two Gravesend pubs on Easter Sunday, April 11, 1993.

Wearing baggy black tracksuit bottoms and green and black trainers, he was seen in what was the Old Manor Shades pub (now the Manor), in Manor Road, and the Station Inn pub (now Bar 24), in Station Road.

He worked as a welder at Hayley Engineering, in Wharf Road, Gravesend, and had boxed as a youngster in the town.

Mr Hotchkiss was living in Seymour Road, Northfleet, when he went missing, leaving behind a sister, step-brothers and ex-wife as well as his son.

He was 5ft 5in, average build, with blue eyes, short brown spiked hair and had various scars and tattoos.

Mr Hotchkiss’ sister, also from the town, appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

She said: "We just miss him and want to find out what happened over these last 16 years and appeal to anyone who has any information that could help the police, to call them."

Cold Case Investigation Team is a branch of Kent police’s major crime department, which investigates unsolved murders, rapes and sex attacks, as well as long-standing missing person inquiries.

Det Ch Insp Dave Withers, who heads Kent Police's cold case investigation team, said: "

He said: "Karl disappeared without a trace. By appealing for information, we hope to solve what happened and bring closure for his family."

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 01634 843048 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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