Body found in Preston ‘believed to be Michael Brooks’

23rd January 2018
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Preston police this afternoon recovered a man’s body from the River Ribble.

It comes as officers have been searching for 19-year-old Michael Brooks for more than three weeks.

Michael Brooks


VIDEO: Search continues to find missing Preston man

DETECTIVES searching for a missing teenager from Preston have released CCTV of him on the night he disappeared.

Michael Brooks, 19, left his flat on Lawson Street with a friend at about 1.05am on Sunday (January 14th), shown here in these pictures. 

The last confirmed sighting of him is on CCTV on Glover’s Court at about 1.20am.

Michael’s friend then describes how the pair make their way along Cross Street and through Winckley Square to Avenham Park and then into Miller Park. The friend then says he loses sight of Michael.

Michael is described as white, around 5ft 7ins tall, of slim build with short dark hair. He speaks with a Liverpool accent and was last seen wearing black skinny jeans and a distinctive black hooded top with a camouflage pattern at the bottom.

Police are continuing to appeal for information following Michael’s disappearance and would urge anyone who can assist with their enquiries to come forward. 

They are especially keen to speak to two people who Michael’s friend says walked past him near the Gazebo in the park at around the time Michael went missing. 

Officers, with the support of teams from the North West Police Underwater Search and Marine Unit, the Environment Agency, Coastguard, Lancashire Fire and Rescue and regional police helicopter units, have carried out a number of searches in the Riversway, Avenham and Fishergate Hill areas since Michael went missing.

Detective Inspector Graeme Simpson, of South CID, said: “We remain extremely concerned for Michael who has now been missing for more than a week. 

Michael Brookes

“Officers, with the support of specialist teams from the region, have conducted searches across the area Michael was last seen and we remain hopeful of finding him.

“If you saw him, or know where he is, please contact us immediately. I particularly need to trace and speak to the two people described who may have walked past Michael and his friend at around the time he disappeared and I would urge them to come forward.

“Any information, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, could prove crucial to our investigation. We are aware that there is a lot of speculation on social media and would urge people to share any information they have with the police.

“Furthermore, I would urge Michael, if he sees this appeal, to call us to let us know he is safe and well.”

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting log reference 0641 of January 14.