
Teen missing after boarding flight from Manchester to Malaysia
Concern is growing after a teenager went missing after boarding a flight from Manchester to Malaysia almost three weeks ago.
Today (Wednesday June 25), Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has issued an urgent appeal for information regarding the 17-year-year-old, referred to as David.
Officers say the teen from Stockport is known to have boarded a plane to Kuala Lumpur earlier this month. He was last seen at Manchester Airport at 6.30am on Friday, June 6. The police are trying to trace the boy's movements and want to speak to anyone who could help.
A GMP Stockport spokesperson said: "Do you know David from Stockport? David (17) was last seen in Manchester Airport at 6:30am on Friday, June 6 2025, but is known to have boarded an aeroplane to Kuala Lumpur.
"Officers are keen to speak to anyone who may know David, his movements or anything else that could help our investigation."
David's surname and a description have not been given by the police, but two photos of the youngster have been released. One appears to show David going through Manchester Airport before boarding the flight, reports Manchester Evening News.
Anyone who sees David or has information on his whereabouts is urged to come forward as soon as possible. Details can be passed on to GMP by calling 101, quoting log number 3703 of June 6, 2025.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, a mum said she couldn't stop crying with joy after her missing teenage son was found alive and safe. Deante James, 17, went missing on the evening of March 31 from the family home in Enfield, north London.
He had suffered psychosis, after unknowingly smoking a joint laced with Spice - a lab-made drug designed to mimic the effects of cannabis. His mum, Vandana Bhogowoth, who found Deante safe six weeks later, told the Mirror: "I'm so happy and relieved, thank God we've found him.
"When I got the call from the police to say he'd been found I was over the moon - I couldn't stop crying.' The case of missing Deante had been highlighted as part of our Missed campaign.
'Thanks so much for everything the Mirror has done - it pushed the police to realise who he was even though his name had been entered onto the system incorrectly. It's great news and he's now getting the help he needs," Vandana added.
Deante's life changed a few weeks before he vanished, after he shared a joint with friends, not knowing it was laced with Spice - a drug known to cause side effects ranging from difficulty breathing to psychotic episodes in some users. He developed psychosis and the night he went missing, he ran away without his phone or wallet.
Lovingly referring to Deante as 'my boo,' Vandana shared her story with The Mirror's Missed campaign last month. She recalled how he was picked up by British Transport Police three days after going missing for not being able to pay his fare but was then let go because of an inputting error.
It was only after Vandana contacted her MP that Deante's case was changed from medium to high risk - despite being 17 and vulnerable. Vandana is certain The Mirror's article was the key to finding Vandana, noting: 'The police then realised who he was, probably because of all the publicity making it very high on their radar.'
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Leader Live
13 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Wrexham: Tributes paid to respected solicitor from Heswall
David Matthews, from Heswall, worked as a consultant for Wrexham-based firm Hopleys GMA for more than 13 years, representing defendants in courtrooms across Wrexham, Mold and the wider north Wales area. A spokesman for the firm said: "It is with huge regret we announce the sad passing of David Matthews, who passed away on June 8, 2025, after a short illness bravely borne. "David's passing was unexpected and a huge shock to all his friends colleagues and most importantly his family. "All our thoughts are with his wife Sandra and his children, Paul, Anna and Sarah. "David worked as a consultant with our practice for the past 13 years dealing primarily with criminal matters." Mr Matthews previously practiced in Liverpool City Centre witrh his own firm; 'David Matthews & Co.' However, for the past 20 or so years he focused primarily on Wrexham, Mold and North Wales. He appeared regularly at all the courts and police stations in Liverpool, North Wales and surrounding areas. David Matthews (Provided by Hopleys GMA) (Image: Hopleys GMA) The spokesman added: "David was a hugely experienced and respected solicitor who was utterly committed to obtaining the best and fairest outcome for his clients. "He approached his role with dedication but never lost his sense of humour. "The criminal justice system has lost a respected and talented individual. MORE NEWS "We as a practice have lost a valued colleague and friend. "Away from law, David was an avid Manchester City supporter and keen golfer, although his work left little time for enough games. We will miss our discussions about sport. "Our thanks to fellow members of the profession and many clients who have contacted us to pass on their condolences." Mr Matthews' funeral will be held at St Peters Church, Village Road, Heswall, Wirral, on Friday, July 11 at 2pm.


Sky News
3 hours ago
- Sky News
'Trust and confidence lost' over grooming gang failures in Manchester, watchdog warns
Despite making "significant improvements", Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has lost the "trust and confidence" of some victims of grooming gangs, according to a report by the police watchdog. Michelle Skeer, His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, said that since 2019, when GMP started to review its non-recent child sexual exploitation investigations, "the force has improved its understanding and approach to investigating allegations of child criminal and sexual exploitation". The document, published today, said police have live investigations into "multi-victim, multi-offender" child sexual exploitation inquiries, involving 714 victims and survivors, and 1,099 suspects. Grooming gangs scandal timeline 2:00 But despite recording improvements, a report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) also identified: • Various training gaps within the investigation team • Lack of consistency in evaluating case files between social care, health and police • Failures to initially support victims meant they had "lost trust and confidence" in police The report was commissioned by the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham in 2024 to evaluate whether police, councils and health services can protect children from sexual exploitation in the future. Its release comes days after Sir Keir Starmer announced he was launching a new national inquiry into grooming gangs after previously arguing one was not necessary, 1:40 The findings were issued as the final part of the CSE (child sexual exploitation) Assurance Review process which started in 2017. The first three reports examined non-recent child sexual exploitation in Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale. Mr Skeer said that the force has been trying to improve its service to those who have experienced sexual exploitation, but previous failings have badly affected trust in GMP. He said: "For some, trust and confidence in the police had been lost, and the force would not be able to rectify their experiences. "It is vital that improvements are led by victims' experiences, and if they do come forward, they are supported, protected and taken seriously." A recent report by Baroness Casey found a significant over-representation of Asian men who are suspects in grooming gangs in Greater Manchester, adding though authorities are in "denial" more needs to be done to understand why this is the case. 6:52 Inspectors also said there were "training gaps" in some investigation teams and issues with data sharing, with local councils sometimes not willing to provide detectives with information, leading to "significant delays in investigations" into grooming gangs. It cites problems with intelligence provided by Manchester City Council, which took months to arrive and "was so heavily redacted that some pages contained only a few words", the report said. GMP is the only force in the country to set up a dedicated team to investigate grooming gangs. Called the Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigation Team (CSE MIT) it has about 100 staff and a ringfenced budget. In October 2024, the force told inspectors there were 59 live multi-victim, multi-offender child sexual exploitation investigations, of which 13 were being managed by the CSE MIT. The report adds: "The force fully accepts that it made mistakes in the past. "It has taken positive and effective steps to learn from these mistakes and improve how it investigates recent and non-recent child sexual exploitation." Separately, the Baird Inquiry published in July 2024 found officers at GMP were abusing their power - making unlawful arrests, unlawful and demeaning strip searches, sometimes treating victims as perpetrators, and traumatising those who have suffered sexual abuse or domestic violence.


South Wales Guardian
4 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
GMP better on grooming gangs as more than 1,000 suspects under investigation
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has made 'significant improvements' in how it investigates group-based sexual exploitation of children, or grooming gangs, and other types of child sexual abuse offences, according to the report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). The 76-page report looks at the current and ongoing way grooming gangs and other child sex offences are handled by the police, health bodies and the 10 councils in Greater Manchester. It said police have live investigations into 'multi-victim, multi-offender' child sexual exploitation inquiries, involving 714 victims and survivors, and 1,099 suspects. Michelle Skeer, His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, said: 'We found that since 2019, when Greater Manchester Police started to review its non-recent child sexual exploitation investigations, the force has improved its understanding and approach to investigating allegations of child criminal and sexual exploitation. 'It is clear that the force has, for many years, been trying to provide a better service to those who have or may have experienced sexual exploitation. 'But for some, trust and confidence in the police had been lost, and the force would not be able to rectify their experiences. 'It is vital that improvements are led by victims' experiences, and if they do come forward, they are supported, protected and taken seriously.' The report from inspectors found current Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson and other senior officers make sure all ranks understand child protection is a priority, it said, with he or deputy chief constables having personally spoken to every supervisor in the force about it. The report states: 'Officers told us that, due to a cultural shift in Greater Manchester Police, investigating child sexual exploitation is now considered 'everyone's business'.' Grooming gangs also 'feature heavily' in chief officer meetings, with performance monitored closely, the report said. GMP is the only force in the country to set up a dedicated team to investigate grooming gangs, which it did in 2021, now called the Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigation Team (CSE MIT), with around 100 staff and a ring-fenced budget. The force also approaches child sexual exploitation as it does serious and organised crime gangs, using specialist tactics. In October 2024, the force told inspectors there were 59 live multi-victim multi-offender child sexual exploitation investigations, of which 13 were being managed by the CSE MIT. In these active investigations, there were 714 victims and survivors, and 1,099 suspects. The force has also recorded demographic data, such as the age, sex and ethnicity of potential victims and suspects and uses 'intelligence products' to produce 'problem profiles' to detail emerging threats and risks. A recent report by Baroness Casey found a significant over-representation of Asian men who are suspects in grooming gangs in Greater Manchester, adding though authorities are in 'denial' more needs to be done to understand why this is the case. Inspectors also said the force is aware of 'training gaps' in some investigation teams and that some victims had been let down in the way their case was handled. And the report also pointed to issues with data sharing, with local councils sometimes not willing to provide detectives with information, leading to 'significant delays in investigations' into grooming gangs. It cites problems with intelligence provided by Manchester City Council, which took months to arrive and 'was so heavily redacted that some pages contained only a few words,' the report said. Nevertheless, so far, the CSE MIT and the earlier grooming gang investigations have resulted in 42 convictions and more than 430 years imprisonment for offenders. Investigations are ongoing and several more trials are scheduled. The report adds: 'The force fully accepts that it made mistakes in the past. 'It has taken positive and effective steps to learn from these mistakes and improve how it investigates recent and non-recent child sexual exploitation.' Responding to the report, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: 'I am confident in my view that the Greater Manchester system is in a demonstrably different and far stronger place today than it was when the failings happened. 'The effect of the assurance review I commissioned has been to usher in widespread culture change across all GM bodies. Never again will any child here be labelled or dismissed when they come forward to report concerns.' Mr Burnham said he felt 'vindicated' by the Government's decision to launch a national inquiry into grooming gangs, following an independent review by Baroness Louise Casey. 'Because of the inevitable limitations of a local review like this, I was an early supporter of a national inquiry to bring accountability of decision-makers and Baroness Casey herself has said that there would not be a national inquiry were it not for the Greater Manchester review,' he said. 'We can feel vindicated by that. 'Now the national inquiry is being put in place, we must allow victims the space and the right climate to have their voices heard, allow the actual truth to be established and accountability delivered.'