Appeal for missing pregnant woman

A heavily-pregnant woman missing for almost two weeks has been urged to come forward as police leading the search arrested her partner.

The last confirmed sighting of Emily Burgess, from Yarmouth, was on August 4 after an appointment with Norfolk social services and she last made contact with her family on August 6.

The 30-year-old, who was heavily pregnant when she went missing, was believed to have been with her partner Ray Junior, aged 34.

Police believe it likely she has now given birth to the baby.

But after checking with hospitals and midwives, officers have found no evidence that she or the child have received any medical attention.

Mr Junior - also known as Keith Anthony Clifford, Keith Anthony Gallant and David Goodman - was arrested in Yarmouth on Tuesday and is being questioned by police.

It emerged that Miss Burgess, who lived off Victoria Road, contacted a solicitor in Norwich on Monday asking about housing.

She was due to contact the solicitor again on Tuesday afternoon, but did not.

Det Chief Insp Steve Strong said she could still be in the Yarmouth area.

“We are very concerned about Emily Burgess,” he said.

“She is nine months pregnant and was two or three weeks over due and has probably had the child.”

He revealed that Miss Burgess also uses three other names - Jennifer Uttine, Denise Bold and Amanda Graham - and that they were alerted to her disappearance by social services.

“For some time she's lived in the Yarmouth area. She has also got lots of contacts in Northamptonshire,” said Det Chief Insp Strong.

“We are aware that in the last couple of weeks she has been in both Yarmouth and Northampton. We don't think she has got access to a car, but we can't rule out that she has been lent a vehicle.

“We are not aware that she has had any medical attention at all. Ourselves and social services are very concerned for the welfare of both mother and child.

“We would encourage Emily to contact us, to tell us that she is safe and well and if there is a child. We will, with social services, do all we can to make sure they are looked after.”

Miss Burgess has three other children, but they are not with her and both police and social services said their only concern was for her and the baby.

Meera Spillett, Norfolk County Council's deputy director for children's services, said: “We are very concerned for the welfare of the mother Emily and her baby and would urge her and anyone who knows where they might be to contact the police as soon as possible.

“It appears that Emily may have given birth without any medical support, or support from her family, and both her and the baby are likely to need medical attention. We are anxious for their welfare and so the top priority must be to help the police find them and make sure they are alright.”

Neighbour David Cosby said he had rarely spoken to Miss Burgess who was reclusive and not a conversationalist.

“She said she had had trouble with an ex and did not want him to know she was in. She said if we ever heard loud bangs to call the police,” he said.

Mr Cosby said his friend Fiona Connor, who lived next door to Miss Burgess, thought she had seen her outside, apparently waiting for someone, as recently as four or five days ago.