Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Police fear lorry driver abducted French student

Tuesday 26 December 1995 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Detectives seeking a missing French student believe she was probably abducted by a lorry driver who gave her a lift.

Despite widespread appeals, the driver, who picked up Celine Figard, 19, at a service area near Newbury, Berkshire, has not come forward.

Detective Superintendent Des Thomas said yesterday: "If he is an innocent man why has he not come forward? Either he has not heard about the appeal or you can draw your sinister implications. Someone out there knows who he is. The quicker they tell us the quicker we can get to her."

Thousands of posters showing a picture of Celine, asking "Have you seen this girl?" and stating "The police fear for her safety" are to be distributed within the next few days.

Celine was given a lift from the Chieveley service area at the junction of the M4 and A34 near Newbury last Tuesday.

The poster describes the white Mercedes cab she got into as pulling a grey trailer with a Thermo King refrigeration unit. The driver was white, 30 to 35, with short fair hair and a chin strap beard but no moustache. He was wearing a grey Top. the poster shows a videofit of the driver, compiled by a witness who saw Celine with him.

Celine, of Sey-Sur-Saone, France, had come to Britain to spend Christmas with a cousin who works at a hotel in Fordingbridge, Hampshire.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in