Chris's Crime Forum

A website set up in the name of missing chef Claudia Lawrence which asks for public donations is being investigated by police.

The 35-year-old was last seen on 18 March after leaving the University of York's Goodricke College, where she worked as a chef.

North Yorkshire Police said neither they nor Miss Lawrence's family had any connection to the site.

The public are being advised not to make donations.

In a statement, North Yorkshire Police said: "It has been brought to our attention that a website going under the name of claudialawrence.com has been set up which is asking for donations to the 'Claudia Lawrence Appeal'.

"Please be aware that neither Claudia's family or North Yorkshire Police have had any involvement with this website.

Missing possessions

"We strongly advise members of the public not to make donations.

"North Yorkshire Police is making inquiries regarding this website."

The detective leading the search for Miss Lawrence has made an appeal for fresh information on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.

The programme heard the police investigation was the biggest in North Yorkshire for five years.

Det Supt Ray Galloway described Miss Lawrence as a "very sociable, gregarious" person with a "wide circle of friends".

He said: "I am significantly concerned that she's come to harm."

Mr Galloway showed replicas of Miss Lawrence's rucksack and mobile phone which are missing.

"I need to know where they are," he said.

The programme said that by 2200 BST it had received eight calls about the investigation.

One caller reported a possible sighting of Miss Lawrence's rucksack and names were given of people who could know her whereabouts.

It was initially thought Miss Lawrence had disappeared after setting off on the three-mile walk from her home to work the following morning.

But she does not appear on any CCTV footage from her normal route and senior police officers said it was possible she met up with someone the previous night.

She disappeared without taking any money, bank cards, or her passport, police said.

Friends and family have described her disappearance as "totally out of character".

Miss Lawrence is described as white, 5ft 6ins, slim with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, blue skinny jeans and white trainers.

Police are appealing for help to find the small blue or green rucksack which Miss Lawrence used to carry her chef whites to work.


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The father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence has launched a new website dedicated to finding her, as he spoke of having a "dreadful feeling".

It is close to 50 days since she vanished and police say the investigation into her disappearance is now one of suspected murder.

Ms Lawrence was last seen near her home in Heworth, York, on March 18.

She then failed to arrive for her 6am work shift at the University of York's Goodricke College the following day.

Her father Peter Lawrencesaid: "Not knowing anything at all about Claudia's whereabouts is a most strange and dreadful feeling.

"And connected with that, there has recently been published various sightings reported of people who may or may not be Claudia on the Thursday morning, 19th of March."

He went on: "My message is, because of the feeling we are all going through, will someone out there please respond to those sightings... Just something to relieve us of part of this dreadful feeling."

Mr Lawrence said he was "disappointed" that not many people had come forward after Crimestoppers offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.

He said he thought it was "strange (that) people needed an incentive".

However, he reiterated his belief that Claudia was still alive, saying: "I very much do believe that Claudia is still alive."

Mr Lawrence launched the website www.findclaudia.co.uk in a fresh effort to find his daughter.

The site contains images and a description of the chef, a message from Mr Lawrence and a prayer from the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu.

There is also a guestbook section, where people can leave messages, a section containing latest news and links to police, Crimestoppers and media outlets.

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