Identity of lorry driver seen with murdered Vicky Glass before her …
The identity of a lorry driver who was seen with murdered Vicky Glass in the hours before her disappearance remains unknown 23 years after her body was found.
Vicky was just 21 when she went missing on Sunday, September 24, 2000. She was last seen being dropped off by a taxi driver at 4am on Union Street, at the junction with Eshwood Square, in Middlesbrough.
It was on this day 23 years ago that Vicky's body was discovered in Danby, North Yorkshire[1], on November 3, 2000. A large-scale murder investigation was launched and a number of arrests were made.
But over the decades, no one has ever been charged in connection with Vicky's disappearance and murder. Following a detailed review of the case in 2021, Cleveland Police[2] relaunched its murder investigation.
Last year, unearthed CCTV footage of Vicky in the hours before her disappearance was released for the first time. The footage shows Vicky in the company of a friend in the Cannon Park area of Middlesbrough.
Vicky Glass (Image: PA)
Cleveland Police says officers spoke to hundreds of people following the appeals, gathering a significant amount of information and speaking to a number of people in connection with the identity of the lorry driver.
But despite all of this information and help from the public, the identity of the lorry driver remains unknown. Cleveland Police has still not been able to successfully conclude this case.
CCTV grab of Vicky Glass in Middlesbrough before her disappearance
Detective Chief Inspector Peter Carr, said: "Today represents another year having passed since the tragic discovery of the body of Vicky Glass. Another year for Vicky’s family to endure the pain of not knowing what happened to her. The suffering that must bring to a family is unimaginable and I am in awe of the bravery they continue to show.
“The investigation team remains wholeheartedly committed to finding out what happened to Vicky and delivering justice for her family. However, to achieve this we need the support of the public, and I am appealing once again to anyone who has any information to please come forward and speak to Cleveland Police."
Unearthed CCTV
The footage provided detectives with with more detailed information including exactly what Vicky was wearing the day she disappeared. She was shown to be wearing light-coloured trousers, a light-coloured top, white trainers and a dark puffer style jacket.
The friend in the CCTV footage has been spoken to by officers and has provided important information to the investigation including that shortly after the footage was taken Vicky was speaking with a lorry driver who provided her with some money[3].
Vicky left some personal items with the lorry driver and had agreed to meet her later in the day, detectives told Teesside Live last year. The lorry driver is described as male, white, aged between 34 and 38 at the time, of a broad build and had a distinct mole on his face.
It's also now been a year since detectives returned to Danby, around a 40 minute drive from Middlesbrough, to hand out flyers and questionnaires to residents to try and jog memories of anything suspicious in the area in the weeks after Vicky was reported missing.
Detectives want to know if any Danby residents have any concerns about people living or visiting the North York Moors village before Vicky's body was found.
In the force's most recent appeal, on the 23rd anniversary since Vicky's body was found, DCI Carr added: “As I have said before, allegiances change over the years, so I really hope that this year, someone out there finds it in their heart to get in touch and tell us what they know.
Detective Chief Inspector, Peter Carr (Image: Teessidelive)
“Someone out there knows something, and I say to that person – please come and speak to us. Please help us find out what happened to Vicky – not for us, but for her grieving family.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101. Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Justice for Vicky
Vicky was a much-loved Stockton[4] woman who enjoyed a happy childhood. She was a determined young girl described as "loving and caring" by her family, she refused to let a hearing impairment hold her back and she was a member of her local jazz band throughout her teens. But sadly, when Vicky was a vulnerable 18-year-old, she was led down a path into drug abuse and subsequently became a victim of sexual exploitation.
Pressured into sex work, it was at the heart of Middlesbrough[5] 's vice underworld that Vicky would disappear. Her killer has never been brought to justice. Four people were arrested in the initial investigation but no-one was ever charged.
All four people arrested in connection with Vicky's murder have all been released with no further action.
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Her family said previously: "She did not deserve to have her life taken, no one had the right to do that.
“Vicky was loved deeply by us, and as a family we have been through turmoil especially as mam Deborah passed away without any answers, knowing Vicky’s killer is out there and people have information that they are not coming forward with.
“Please do the right thing and help get justice for Vicky and give our family some hope of healing. We plead with you to do the right thing by contacting the police or Crimestoppers.”
Go here[10] for more Middlesbrough news and updates
References
- ^ North Yorkshire (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Cleveland Police (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ lorry driver who provided her with some money (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Stockton (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Middlesbrough (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ click this link and select 'Join Community (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ Teesside Live (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ can read our Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)
- ^ Click here to join our WhatsApp community (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ here (www.gazettelive.co.uk)