Sister of missing Shane Carter makes emotional appeal to trace him (From St Helens Star)

Sister of missing Shane Carter makes emotional appeal to trace him

6:22pm Tuesday 10th July 2012 in News By Stephen Mather, Senior reporter

THE distraught family of a missing young man have made an emotional appeal to trace his whereabouts.

Shane Carter has not been in contact with his family since last Thursday (July 5) and is now at the centre of a police missing person’s inquiry.

The 19-year-old, of Ellison Drive, Eccleston, visited Manchester that day and police checks have determined the last recorded signal from his mobile phone was in the city's Piccadilly area at about 6pm.

Speaking to the Star this week, Shane’s family said his disappearance “is totally out of character” and that they have been left desperately searching for answers.

His sister Donner Hegarty said: “He told my stepmum that he was going to Manchester shopping with a friend. But we have since spoken to the friend and she said she didn’t meet him and didn’t plan to.

“So now we don’t know who he was with.

“He last spoke to his stepmum and told her he was outside Primark waiting for a friend. She asked him if he wanted anything from the chippy and he said he was ok.

“Since they traced the phone signal to Piccadilly, his phone has died.

“He’s not touched his bank account, but he wasn’t working and had no money going in. What he did have he was given by the family. But that was only a small amount. The most would have been £50.”

Donner described her brother as “shy” and not very confident: “It’s not like him to even go on a train. It’s not something he would do on his own.

“At first we hoped that he was at a mate’s house and would turn up, but after 48 hours, the police became involved.

“He doesn't normally go into Manchester so I don’t think he will know his way around.”

Donner, who is heavily pregnant, says at the moment they are working on the assumption that the former Cowley and St Helens College pupil, travelled to Manchester by train via St Helens Junction.

She admitted: “I always worry about him. In many ways he’s a typical teenager.”

He is described as white, 5ft 9ins of stocky build with shoulder length dyed black hair and blue eyes. Shane was wearing a black t-shirt and jeans, along with a black padded gillet jacket, when he was last seen.

He may have also been wearing a dog tag necklace and custom jewellery.

Police said on Tuesday they were becoming increasingly concerned for his whereabouts.

Officers are urging Shane or anyone who knows where he may be to call 101 or the National Missing Person's hotline on 116 000.