Leah Croucher: mother's emotional plea for missing Milton Keynes teen, 19, to get in touch

The mother of a missing teenager has said it is "unbelievable" that her daughter has not contacted anyone as she made an emotional appeal for her daughter to get in touch one week after she disappeared.

Leah Croucher, 19, was last seen in Buzzacott Lane in Furzton, Milton Keynes, just after 8.15am on Friday, February 15.

Her mother Claire Croucher said today that her family are beside themselves with worry.

Mrs Croucher and her husband John said Miss Croucher's disappearance is "highly unusual" as they appealed for information seven days after she was last seen.

At a press conference on Friday morning, Mrs Croucher said: "She mainly chooses to communicate with her friends through social media or text.

"It's unbelievable to her family and friends that she would choose not to contact any of us for the past seven days in any of the formats that are available to the youth of today.

"She would not wish to cause worry or the fuss that has arisen due to her highly unusual disappearance.

"She is a creature of habit who loves her home comforts."

She urged her daughter to get in touch or "better still, come home".

"It doesn't have to be me or Dad that you contact," she said.

"You can call, text, email, Facebook or Snapchat anybody you feel comfortable with getting in touch. Just show us that you are safe."

Thames Valley Police Chief Inspector Neil Kentish said there have been two unconfirmed sightings of a female who "may be Leah" in the area of the Teardrop Lakes at approximately 8.45am on February 15, and that searches are being carried out.

He appealed for information "from anybody with CCTV or dash cam footage from Furzton, Emerson Valley, Shenley Lodge, Knowlhill and surrounding roads on Friday the 15th between 8am and 11am".

"She hasn't spoken to her family and friends, she hasn't used her mobile phone or accessed her bank," he added.

Mr Kentish said Ms Croucher walks from her house in Emerson Valley to work at a finance company in Knowlhill every day, and that CCTV images of her captured last Friday morning might help people remember.

Ms Croucher is described as white and of slim build, with below shoulder-length brown hair, and sometimes wears glasses.

She was last seen wearing a black coat, black skinny jeans and black Converse high top shoes, and was carrying a small black rucksack.

Mr Kentish said a dedicated team of about 50 officers is involved in the missing person investigation and they have knocked on more than 4,000 doors in Milton Keynes as part of the inquiry.

He said police are keeping an open mind and using all resources available including dogs and helicopters.

Anyone with information can go to a police station, call 101, or visit the police website.

In her statement, Mrs Croucher said: "Leah is a bright, confident and loving 19-year-old.

"She loves fantasy fiction, both reading it, writing it, and publishing it herself on the internet.

"She is a family-orientated person who cares deeply about her family and her friends. She is kind and generous and always helps people any way she can."

She added that their daughter was due to go with them on a family holiday in the next two weeks.

Mrs Croucher thanked family, friends and colleagues for their support at this "impossible time".

She also thanked the police for their efforts to find her daughter, adding that the family wishes them "all the luck in the universe".

Appealing to Leah, Mrs Croucher said: "We miss you terribly. Please, please call us so we can come and get you. We love you so much."

On Friday afternoon, police tape blocked off a section next to one of the Teardrop Lakes and a team from specialist search company Specialist Group International were searching the lakes.