Police have been joined by volunteers in searches in nearby woods for missing Horsham woman Jennifer Marsh.
Jennifer Marsh, 59, of Littlehaven Lane, Horsham, was reported missing at 8.30pm on Wednesday evening, 30 May, from her home address. She had been seen by her partner at 9.30am that morning, but now a member of the public has reported that they saw her in Leechpool Woods nearby at 11.20am that day. If it was Jennifer this would have been the last reported sighting of her.
The evening of 1 June and overnight officers have been searching these woods, along with Owlbeech Woods. This has continued today, 2 June, with the support of the West Sussex Neighbourhood Watch search unit and Sussex Search and Rescue team
Insp Rob McPhilemy said: "We are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of Jennifer and have stepped up searches in these areas. Jennifer is known to use these woods as well as Warnham nature reserve, Southwater Park and Chesworth Farm. Jennifer is on medication for diabetes and it is totally out of character for her to act in this way. I would ask anyone who has seen her or has any information to contact us on 101."
Jennifer is described as white, 5'10" tall, of average build, with dark brown, collar length straight hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 1705 of 30 May.

06 June 2012
Reference:PR39336/2012
Police and volunteers are continuing to search for missing Horsham woman Jennifer Marsh.
Jennifer, 59, was reported missing at 8.30pm on Wednesday 30 May from her home in Littlehaven Lane. She had last been seen at home at 9.30am that morning by her partner.
A possible sighting of her was reported to police in nearby Leechpool Woods at 11.20am on 30 May. Police and volunteers have been searching the area but Jennifer is still missing.
Checks are also being carried out at places where Jennifer is known to have links with.
Posters, which include a photograph of Jennifer, are being handed out to horse riders and walkers around the Horsham area.
Sergeant Andy Wolstenholme of Horsham Neighbourhood Response Team said: "Jennifer has now been missing for a week and we are growing more and more concerned for her welfare.
"Jennifer suffers from diabetes and it is important that she receives her medication. We would appeal for Jennifer to get in contact with police or her family to let us know that she is safe and well."
 
update
13 June 2012
Body found in woodland
At 6.20pm on Wednesday 13 June a man walking his dog found the body of a woman in dense undergrowth in Leechpond Woods, Horsham. Police have investigated and the death is not being treated as suspicious. A post mortem will be carried out. The body has not yet been formally identified but is believed, very sadly, to be that of 59-year old Jennifer Marsh, who was reported missing from her home in Horsham on 30 May.

This is a copy of a Release, together with a family photo, that Sussex Police issued on Wednesday 30 May on behalf of the family of Plamen Petkov who died at West Wittering beach on Saturday 26 May,
A family spokesperson said: "We are all incredibly sad to have lost such a special person from our lives but we are also immensely proud that Plamen was able to save the life of this young child.
"His display of concern for others was typical of the man we all knew and the way he lived his life.
"Plamen always made time to help others, and as a family we have all been touched by his kindness and generosity which he displayed each day.
"We are grateful for the messages of support from everyone Plamen came into contact with both in and out of work - he leaves a huge gap in our lives and will be missed by us all.
"We would like to thank his friend and the woman for the huge effort they made to try to save Plamen's life and to people for the kind comments made about Plamen and his part in returning the child safely to the shore.
"In response to the many people who have been moved by his brave act, the family would like to release his name and picture to be commemorated. We also appreciate suggestions to award Plamen with a posthumous honour for his actions.
"In these extremely difficult days, Plamen's family want to use this unfortunate opportunity to stress their concern with the dangerous waters like those at West Wittering around the UK coast and are keen to call for additional positive safety measures to be put in place, such as stationed lifeguards, and to not just rely on signage in order to prevent future tragedies of a similar nature occurring again.
"The family are looking at how they might support the local community in this area who share this concern in the hope that these changes might be an appropriate way of honouring Plamen's name and courageous act."
 
The family has also released the following version of events which took place on Saturday:

When they arrived at the shore the woman started the attempt to resuscitate him with CPR until help arrived. The attempt continued for around 40 minutes until an air-ambulance arrived but they were unfortunately unable to save him.

Editors note:-
We would wish to echo the comments made in an EMail sent by Pearl Whitcombe who witnessed the events following the rescue and in the statement above.
" 40 MINUTES until help arrived "
 
 

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ONGOING
 
 
MISSING SINCE MONDAY 23 APRIL 2012
 

Police report Ref: PR38987-2012
MISSING PERSON
 
THIS LADY MAY HAVE TRAVELLED
BY BUS TO ANY PART OF SUSSEX
 
Police in Brighton have published more photos of missing 96-year old Nellie Herriott.
 
There is increasing concern for Nellie's welfare as she has not been seen since she left the BHS store in Churchill Square, Brighton, at 2.25pm on Monday 23 April 2012.
 
Nellie, who lives on her own in central Brighton, is described as white, of thin build, 4ft 9in tall, with short curly hair. She was wearing a blue coat, a black hat, pale coloured trousers and shoes, and was carrying a beige coloured handbag. It is not known whether she had any money but she does have a bus pass.
 
Detective Constable Suzy McClintock said- "Nellie has been a frequent visitor to the BHS Café in Churchill Square. She may have frequented other cafes, regularly uses buses in Brighton and Hove, and has travelled by bus as far as Eastbourne and Worthing in the past.
 
"Nellie is very vulnerable due to her age and the fact that she also suffers from Alzheimers which can cause her to become confused. It has now been five days since she was last seen and despite widespread enquiries, including distribution of posters in the city, there have been no sightings of her. We are very anxious to hear from anyone who thinks they may know where she is.
 
"If anyone thinks they have seen Nellie then please can they call us as soon as possible on 101, quoting reference number 1448 of 25 April."
 
The new photo of Nellie is published on the website version of this release. We do not known who the cat belongs to but it is not hers. The previously reported last sighting of Nellie said to be waiting for a bus in Race Hill on Monday morning is now being treated as mistaken.

 Update- Sunday 29 April
Police in Brighton have today, published two new photos of missing 96-year old Nellie Herriott. There has also been a confirmed sighting of her on Tuesday 24 April.
 
She had been seen leaving the cafe at the BHS store in Churchill Square, Brighton, at about 2.25pm on Monday 23 April, and someone who knows her has now come forward in response to publicity to say they saw her on a bus in London Road, Brighton, going towards the city centre, at about 12.30pm on the following day, Tuesday 24 April. There is increasing concern for Nellie, who lives on her own in central Brighton, and is described as white, of thin build, 4ft 9in tall, with short curly hair.
 
She was wearing a blue coat, a black hat, pale coloured trousers and shoes, and was carrying a beige coloured handbag. It is not known whether she had any money. Her bus pass has now been found in her flat.
 
The two new images are from BHS shop CCTV, showing Nellie in the BHS cafe on Saturday 21 April, two days before she was last seen, but they do show the clothing she was wearing when last seen.

"There have been many calls from people reporting possible sightings, though none have been confirmed. Many people are trying to help, and we are really grateful to everyone, but if anyone still thinks they have seen Nellie then please can they call us as soon as possible on 101, quoting reference number 1448 of 25 April.
 
Update- 02 May 2012
 
It's been over a week since 96-year-old Nellie Herriott was last seen and all searches to date including the specialist search teams organised yesterday have been unable to locate her.
 
Detective Sergeant Duncan Elliott from Brighton and Hove CID said: "After yesterday's extensive search of the Whitehawk area it now looks like Nellie is somewhere else in the city or surrounding areas.
 
"There have been over 40 sightings of Nellie and we will continue to look into all of these in the hope that one of them will lead us to her."
 
"Again, I would like to sincerely thank the public and local media who have gone to great lengths to help us with our search for Nellie, their support has been tremendous and we are very grateful.
 
"I would also like to thank the specialist search teams who worked all day yesterday and into the evening scouring the Whitehawk area in a bid to find Nellie."
 
Nellie is described as white, of thin, fragile build, 4' 9", with straight white collar-length hair. She was wearing a knee-length blue-mauve coloured coat, black woolly hat, cream trousers and white shoes. Her glasses are missing a lens.
 
If you see her please call 101 quoting serial 1448 of 25/4.
 

One of the last sightings of Nellie was on this bus. Have you seen her.?
Update-
18 May 2012
The search for missing Nellie continues
 
Police are continuing their enquiries to try and find missing 96-year-old Nellie Herriott. Despite extensive searches and numerous sightings being followed up by police, Nellie has still not been located. A spokesperson said: "It has now been almost a month since Nellie was reported missing and officers have worked tirelessly to try and find her. We have been overwhelmed by support from the public and the media who have gone to great lengths to help us with our search, but the fact remains that the last confirmed sighting of Nellie was now several weeks ago. "We don't want to speculate on what may have happened and it may be the case that she's no longer in the area. However, our enquiries continue and we would encourage anyone who thinks they may have seen her to contact police immediately and, if possible, stay with her."
Anyone who thinks they have information is asked to call police on 101 quoting serial 1448 of 25 April.
 
Update-
14 June 2012
Search for Nellie to be scaled down
 
It has been seven weeks since 96 year old Nellie Herriott was reported missing to police from her Brighton home.
The search for the very independent pensioner involved police investigating over 70 reported sightings, using specialist search teams, viewing many hours of CCTV, regularly checking local hospitals and a high profile social media campaign in a bid to locate her.
Detective Inspector Miles Ockwell, who led the investigation said: "It is very sad that despite an intensive investigation combined with tremendous help and support from the public and media, Nellie is still missing. Our thoughts are very much with her family and friends who still do not know what has happened to her.
"The case will not be closed down completely - I will personally review it on a monthly basis for the first three months and then six monthly after that and any new lines of inquiry that come up in the meantime will be investigated.
Nellie's niece, Lesley Hogg said: "I'd like to thank Sussex Police, social services and the public, especially in Brighton, for their amazing help and genuine participation in trying to find Nellie - which we have found very heart warming.
"It has all been very distressing, terrible and unfortunate. Nellie has always been an independent lady who loved her freedom. It is so sad that she has not been found."
 
 
 
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