'Please, please come home' (From Witney Gazette)

'Please, please come home'

9:00am Wednesday 5th July 2006 in Witney By Samantha Simpson

THE wife of a missing councillor made an emotional appeal for him to come home as police remained confident he was still alive.

Andrew Creery, a respected West Oxfordshire district councillor and Witney town councillor, was last seen at his family's home in Chedworth Drive, on the town's Deer Park estate, on Tuesday, June 6.

Fears started mounting for his welfare after he failed to return home, and Thames Valley Police launched a major search, involving other police forces.

Police in Witney said they were confident Mr Creery, 48, was still alive and said he could be in Oxfordshire.

They joined his wife, JoJo, and the couple's two daughters, aged 11 and 16, to appeal to Mr Creery to get in touch.

Speaking for the first time since his disappearance, Mrs Creery, who met her husband in Hong Kong while he was working there as a police officer, said: "Dear Andy, please, please come home. The girls and I are very worried about you, miss you and can't wait for you to come back.

"We know there are many problems facing us, but we can deal with these together, as a family. We love you. Please come home."

Although he could not reveal details, Chief Insp Dennis Evernden, the local police area commander for West Oxfordshire, said extensive enquiries led his team to believe that Mr Creery was 'alive and well' on June 17.

Officers had tracked down relatives, friends, and contacts in other counties, which had helped with inquiries, but no direct contact had been made with Mr Creery.

Mr Evernden said Mrs Creery's plea made it clear there were 'personal problems', that may have led to Mr Creery's disappearance, and everyone, including police, was anxious to hear that he was all right.

He said: "He is an adult, and we're not saying he has got to go home. We just urge him to let someone know he is safe and well."

Mr Creery was elected as a Conservative district councillor for Witney Central ward in 2004 and has served as a Witney town councillor for seven years.

Witney mayor, Chrissie Curry, who has worked on town council matters with Mr Creery over the past three years, said his disappearance shocked everyone.

She said: "I'd like to say directly to Andrew that we are all here for you, and we all care about you just please get in touch."

District council leader Barry Norton also appealed for Mr Creery, who ran an IT business from home, to make contact.

Mr Creery is 5ft 8in tall, medium build, with short brown hair and a side parting.

Anyone with information should call police, on 08458 505505, or Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.