01 November 2023 , 16:03
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The parents of a teenager who vanished 20 years ago have appealed for help to end their “nightmare”.
Detectives fear Charlene Downes, 14, was murdered but her body has never been found. And despite a number of arrests, two trials, and the offer of a £100,000 reward, no-one has been convicted of her killing. Charlene disappeared in Blackpool, Lancs, on November 1, 2003. Police believe she was one of a number of girls who were victims of child sex exploitation in the seaside town at the time.
A 28 year old man was cleared of her murder in 2008 after "grave doubts" were raised about evidence during his second trial. The jury in his first trial had failed to reach a verdict. In 2017, a 51-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but later released. Charlene's parents, Karen and Robert Downes, have renewed an appeal for information about what happened to their daughter.
"Somebody knows something somewhere and we ask them to come forward and please, end our nightmare" said Karen, 58. "Hope is all we can do and we just hope that one day something will happen and we can get some justice or some closure for Charlene." Robert, 62, added: "We just want someone to come forward. Be brave and don't be scared.”
Charlene's parents are appealing for informationThe investigation is one of the largest and longest running in the history of Lancashire Police. Det Chief Supt Pauline Stables said: “We have never given up on our quest to find out what happened to Charlene, and I know there are people out there who will have information which would help us.
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“It’s 20 years since Charlene disappeared and people are older now and their loyalties, priorities and acquaintances may have changed and that allows them to think differently than you might have done previously. In the past people might not have wanted or felt able to come forward with what they know and speak to police but now they may feel they can and I would urge them to do so.
“Even if you think the information you have is insignificant, please share it with us and let us be the judge. It may be a piece of the jigsaw that we are missing. By coming forward and telling us what you know can only help us. You may hold information that is crucial to finding out what happened to Charlene.”
“We want justice for Charlene, we want justice for Charlene’s parents and family. Charlene was a vulnerable teenage girl in Blackpool who was being exploited and there will have been other children in the same position who knew Charlene and perhaps know what happened to her.
“Perhaps you were too frightened and afraid to tell someone what was happening and who was involved. Now time has moved on, you may feel that you can now speak to us. It’s not too late to get justice for Charlene and provide some answers for her family who have been suffering for 20 agonising years. We remain determined to bring her loved ones the closure they deserve.”