Missing commando’s wife two weeks from giving birth

THE pregnant wife of a missing Royal Marine has made a desperate plea to her husband to come home.

Sarah Hebden, who is expecting their first child within the next two weeks, issued her poignant appeal as Tayside 
Police continued their extensive search for her husband.

Ralph Hebden, 32, has been missing from his home in Arbroath since 8am on Monday morning.

He vanished after going for a morning run near the cliffs on the outskirts of the Angus town which is home to the 45 Commando base at RM Condor.

The commando was last seen at a supermarket near the centre of the town and more than a mile from the Marine base.

In a statement, released by Tayside Police, Mrs Hebden said: “Ralph, as time goes by we are all extremely worried about you and concerned for your safety.

“Our baby is due in a couple of weeks and we need you home with us both. Your family and friends love you very much. Please come home or contact any of us to let us know you are safe.”

Marine Hebden and his wife celebrated their first wedding anniversary last month. He is believed to have returned to the Condor base from a three-month-tour of duty at Christmas.

A Tayside Police spokeswoman said: “Ralph was last seen at Morrisons supermarket in Arbroath at about 8:30am on Monday morning.

“Extensive searches of the coastal area have already been carried out, and police are following all available lines of inquiry to trace him.

“Large numbers of leaflets were distributed in the town yesterday by police, and officers will be in the local area today handing out further leaflets, reviewing CCTV and continuing to appeal for local businesses and residents in Arbroath to come forward with any information that may help to trace him.”

The spokeswoman added: “Police are also keen to establish the identity of a man who appeared to match the missing person’s description, and was seen by a runner at Arbroath cliffs at around 9am on Monday morning.

“Police would appeal to this person, who matched the description, to come forward, particularly if they remember being greeted by a Border terrier dog.”

The missing Marine is originally from the Toxteth area of Liverpool, and the force spokeswoman added: “Police are not discounting that Ralph, originally from Liverpool, may have travelled to the Merseyside area where he has friends and family.”