Gaia Pope: 49-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder '110 per cent innocent', say family

A 49-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Gaia Pope,  Dorset Police have said.

The arrest was announced hours after police found "items of women's clothing" in a field.

Dorset Police said the suspect, who is believed to know Miss Pope, was arrested on Thursday afternoon. The suspect was named by his own family as Paul Elsey, 49, who is the uncle of Nathan Elsey, a 19-year-old actor and friend of Miss Pope. 

Greg Elsey, the suspect's father,  said his son was '110 per cent innocent'. Mr Elsey said he had travelled from his home in Romsey in Hampshire to Poole in Dorset to pick up his son and take him to a law firm. He was then arrested.

Mr Elsey said: "It's disgusting how the police have performed. I wanted to make sure Paul had got legal representation before he was taken away. I asked Paul before he was arrested if he was all right. He said 'yes, I'm fine'.

"He's protested his innocence 110 per cent and I have 110 per cent belief that he will be released when they find out he has done nothing."

A major inquiry is under way to find Gaia, 19, who vanished from the Swanage area of Dorset on the afternoon of November 7.

Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell, of Dorset police, said: "We have arrested a 49-year-old man on suspicion of murder. He is believed to be known to Gaia and from the Swanage area.

"Also today a member of the public identified clothing south of Priestly Road in Swanage similar to that worn by Gaia."

Police said the clothing was found at 10.28am on Thursday by a member of the public in an area of open land north of the coastal path near Swanage.

The owner of the clothes has not yet been identified, but detectives have informed Miss Pope's family of the find.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Devoto, who is leading the investigation, said: "Following the discovery of these items of clothing, a full and thorough search will now take place in the field and surrounding area.

"We have seized the clothing and investigations will now be carried out to identify who they belong to.

"We have updated Gaia's family who continue to be supported by specially-trained officers. Our thoughts remain with them at this very difficult time."

Mr Devoto added: "We are doing everything possible to try and locate Gaia.

"I would like to renew my appeal to anyone who has information about where Gaia is or what has happened to her to please contact Dorset Police.

"I am also urging anyone who has seen any suspicious activity in the area of Morrison Road and Priests Way since November 7 to please contact us."

Earlier, Miss Pope's father, Richard Sutherland, made an emotional appeal to find his daughter and said he just wanted a "big hug" from her.

"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," Mr Sutherland told ITV News.

"I can't tell you how grateful we are to everybody out there, it's unbelievable."

Mr Sutherland added: "Gaia, you know we love you, you know that. I just want that big hug please, I just want a big hug. We'll get you back and we'll have that big hug."

On Wednesday, the teenager's mother, Natasha Pope, urged people to look in vans, garages and houses in case she was being kept against her will.

Dorset Police has launched a major investigation to find Gaia and has been carrying out forensic examinations of two properties in the Swanage area, as well as searches of land around the town.

The force released two CCTV images of the teenager taken inside St Michael's Garage in Swanage when she bought an ice cream.

Gaia was 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.

The black jacket Gaia was wearing in the CCTV images was recovered from an address in Manor Gardens.

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. Three vehicles have been seized.

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

The search to find the teenager has continued with search teams focusing all their efforts inland in Swanage and the surrounding area, supported by Dorset search and rescue and specialist units from neighbouring police forces.