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[sidubutt]

This missing person case has fascinated and intrigued me for years. If you want more info go to Reddit or Websleuths where there are multiple discussion threads and theories etc.

Andrew, 14, and young looking, skipped school and caught a train from Doncaster to London in early Sept. 2007. He was caught on CCTV leaving King's Cross station and after that, nothing. A woman's sure she saw him eating the buffet a bit later in Pizza Hut nearby. From the description and his mannerisms this sighting is all but confirmed by his heartbroken family. When asked by the Doncaster station lady ticket seller if he wanted a return ticket, costing not much more, he said NO. He took no clothes. As it was a Friday morning he put his uniform in the washing machine. His parents only realised he was missing when they called him down for dinner. South Yorkshire Police didn't realise for 3 days, until the ticket seller came forward, that he'd gone to London and suspected his father. They were so late checking CCtV that most had already been wiped by the council, Pizza Hut and local businesses. Many supposed sightings since though, mostly in London and Brighton. He did have extended family in Sidcup but they say he never went there or contacted them. He knew London quite well as had often been on visits with his parents. He knew his way round the tube etc.

What happened after he arrived in London? KC is not a very nice area, wasn't then and isn't now. Known for prostitution and rumoured to be a haunt for pimps looking for young rent boys. He'd have stood out a mile.

Chances are high that he's dead but not necessarily. How could a 14 year old survive though unless he had a lot of help. He had no mobile phone and no PC. His sister had a laptop and that was checked by police computer experts and they found no trace that he'd even used that or had an email account.. Rumours were that he was being bullied at school. Did he run away never intending to return or was he groomed? He was very brainy and had attended a summer residential school the summer before. Speculation is he could have been groomed there.

The not knowing if he's alive or dead is pure hell for his family. They even paid to have parts of the Thames searched by divers. A body was found but not his. Did he go to commit suicide? Why go so far to do that though. Most do it at home. His sister married a few years ago and the family thought if he was alive that may bring him home.