Missing marine Ralph Hebden’s wife gives birth

• Wife appeals for missing man to come home.

• Enquiry stretches as far as Liverpool.

And, exactly two weeks after her husband vanished, the proud new mum appealed to her missing husband to return home to see his baby daughter.

In a direct appeal, issued through Tayside Police Mrs Hebden said: “Ralph, your daughter has been born. She is safe and healthy and we are both doing well. But we both need you home with us and we need you now. Please come home.”

Inspector Ally Robertson, who is heading the search, said: “Clearly, our fears for Ralph grow with each passing day, but we dearly hope that news of the best possible kind – being a dad to a healthy baby girl – will reach him. Sarah and the baby need Ralph home.

Searches

“Ralph’s family need to know he is safe and well and I appeal to him to get in touch as soon as possible to offer Sarah some peace of mind at what should be a happy time.”

A Tayside Police spokesman said: “In the time since he disappeared, extensive searches have been carried out in Arbroath and beyond, at times involving the assistance of Ralph’s Royal Marine colleagues. Local residents have also been urged to check sheds, garages and outbuildings for any signed that someone might have taken refuge, either overnight or temporarily.

“Up to 30 police officers have been working in the enquiry, including 20 officers local to Angus. Two officers are also currently in Ralph’s home town of Liverpool to ascertain if any information of value can be gained there. Officers have spoken to hundreds of people across the Angus town in the hope they might have seen Ralph on the day he went missing, or in the time since. A total of 140 witness statements have been noted. Exhaustive reviews of public and private CCTV footage have also been undertaken.”

Travelled

He continued: “Ralph is a keen walker and is known to go on very long walks, heading miles outside of the Arbroath area, sometimes venturing as far as Barry Buddon and even the Carse of Gowrie. The enquiry team have not discounted the possibility that he has travelled even farther afield and continue to make enquiries, not only with police forces across the UK, but also with hostels and Bed and Breakfast accommodation in the hope that someone might have seen Ralph.

“Public and private transport operators have also been contacted as enquiries enter their third week.”