Desperate search for missing boy, 13, last seen ‘in the company of a man’ at London train station as new CCTV released
A 13-YEAR-OLD boy has gone missing after being seen “in the company of a man” as the pair travelled to London.
Cops have launched an urgent search for Charlie Smith, after he was was last spotted at around 3pm on Thursday, October 3, in Beaufort Road in Bournemouth.
Dorset Police confirmed he was later seen on CCTV with a man in the area of Jumpers Road, walking toward Barrack Road, in Christchurch at around 4.45pm.
It is believed the pair got on a train at Christchurch train station and travelled towards London at around 5.30pm.
They were seen on CCTV arriving at London Waterloo at around 7.20pm.
Charlie is described as five-feet one-inch tall and of slim build.
He has shoulder-length black hair that is blond at the roots.
The teenager was last seen wearing grey or black baggy jeans and black platform shoes with white bats on them.
He also wore a blue baseball jacket with white sleeves.
Charlie has not been seen for more than 48 hours and Dorset Police say they are “very concerned for his welfare”.
A spokesperson for the force said: “Officers are issuing a further appeal as they continue to search for missing Christchurch teenager Charlie Smith, with CCTV of a another sighting being released.
“Charlie Smith, aged 13, was reporting missing having last been seen at around 3pm on Thursday 3 October 2024 in Beaufort Road in Bournemouth. Charlie was last in contact with family at around 3.30pm.
“Following enquiries, officers obtained CCTV images of Charlie in the company of a man in the area of Jumpers Road, walking toward Barrack Road, in Christchurch at around 4.45pm on Thursday 3 October.
“It has been further reported that Charlie and the man he was with are believed to have got on a train at Christchurch train station heading towards London at around 5.30pm on Thursday 3 October 2024 and arrived at London Waterloo at around 7.20pm.
“Charlie is described as five feet one inch tall and of slim build with shoulder-length black hair that is blond at the roots.
“He was last seen wearing grey or black baggy jeans, black platform shoes with white shiny bats on and a blue baseball jacket with white sleeves.”
Detective Chief Inspector Aimee Schock, of Dorset Police, said: “Charlie has not been seen for more than 48 hours now and we are very concerned for his welfare. We are continuing to carry out extensive enquiries to locate him.
“We are now releasing CCTV images of Charlie in company with a man at London Waterloo station on the evening of Thursday 3 October 2024, which is currently the last confirmed sighting.
“I would urge anyone with information regarding Charlie’s whereabouts, or who is able to help us identify the person he was with, to please make contact with us immediately.
“I am also repeating my direct plea to Charlie to please get in touch with us or your family and let us know where you are. We just want to make sure that you are OK.”
Anyone with information or knowledge as to Charlie’s whereabouts is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55240152578.