Advertisement

Father of man, 49, arrested over missing Gaia Pope says her family were 'bad news'

A 49-year-old man arrested over the disappearance of Gaia Pope “could not stand” the 19-year-old and thought her family were “bad news”, his father has reportedly said.

The suspect, named locally as Paul Elsey, has been in custody since Thursday afternoon on suspicion of the murder of Gaia, who had not been seen since she vanished from the Swanage area of Dorset on the afternoon of November 7.

Police have since found clothing similar to that which the teen was wearing when she disappeared near a clifftop after a tip-off from a member of the public.

<em>“Bad news” – a man arrested over the disappearance of Gaia Pope thought her family was bad news, his father has said (Picture: Dorset Police)</em>
“Bad news” – a man arrested over the disappearance of Gaia Pope thought her family was bad news, his father has said (Picture: Dorset Police)

Paul Elsey’s father Greg Elsey reportedly told the Daily Mail before his son’s arrest: “Paul could not stand Gaia. He wanted nothing to do with her. He said her family were bad news.”

Following the arrest, he told the newspaper his son was working away at the time Gaia disappeared and had protested his innocence “110%”, saying he believed he would be released after police discovered he had done nothing wrong.

Most popular on Yahoo News UK

Here’s why you should never end your text messages with a full stop
Police arrest 49-year-old man on suspicion of murdering missing teenager Gaia Pope
Rolf Harris has one of his 12 sexual assault convictions overturned
NASA solves mystery of eerie ‘whistling’ in upper atmosphere
Donald Trump describes world leader who admits killing people as ‘a good guy’

Dorset Police have released two CCTV images of Gaia taken inside St Michael’s Garage in Swanage when she bought an ice cream while being driven between Langton Matravers and Swanage by a family member when they stopped off for fuel at around 2.55pm.

The last confirmed sighting of Gaia was at an address in Manor Gardens on Morrison Road in Swanage at about 4pm on the day she disappeared.

<em>Clothing – police have found clothing similar to that worn by Gaia Pope when she disappeared (Picture: PA)</em>
Clothing – police have found clothing similar to that worn by Gaia Pope when she disappeared (Picture: PA)

Forensic investigations are continuing at two properties in Manor Gardens which are believed to be the homes of a 71-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man.

They were released under investigation on Tuesday after being arrested on suspicion of murder by police the previous day.

<em>Searches – police are continuing to search properties in Manor Gardens, Swanage (Picture: PA)</em>
Searches – police are continuing to search properties in Manor Gardens, Swanage (Picture: PA)

Earlier this week, Gaia’s mother Natasha Pope urged people to look in vans, garages and houses in case she was being kept against her will.

The teen’s father Richard Sutherland has made an emotional appeal to find his daughter and said he just wanted a “big hug” from her.

He told ITV News: “I can tell you this that the family is united together in this and we are united with the police and united with the public.”

(Top picture: PA)