Search for missing teen 10 years on

31 August 2018, 05:50 | Updated: 31 August 2018, 05:52

Today marks a decade since a friendly, likeable young man from Moston got out of a car in Manchester city centre, waved goodbye to his auntie, and was never seen again.

A £20,000 reward remains in place for anyone with information leading to the whereabouts of Jordan Ratcliffe.

Jordan was 16-years-old when his aunt, Kimberley Pierce dropped him off on Tib Street at 4.45pm on 31 August 2008.

He was due to visit the Men’s Direct Hostel in Longsight, but never arrived.

Since then, Kimberley Pierce has worked tirelessly alongside GMP’s Missing Persons team to try and locate him.

In 2014, there were reported sightings of Jordan in Portsmouth. Police visited the area and although initially promising these enquiries were unable to provide anything further on the whereabouts of Jordan.

A year later, police released a computer generated image of how he might have aged.

A sighting in Liverpool in 2012 was discounted, and further sightings in London were never confirmed.

One sighting in particular stands out – when a British Transport Police PCSO stopped a young man matching Jordan’s appearance on Waterloo station in 2010 and told the officer that he was from Manchester.

The sighting generated extensive enquiries in the London area amid concerns that Jordan was sleeping rough in the area.

In April 2017 Piccadilly Basin was drained as part of the hunt for Jordan.

The North West Police Underwater Search and Marine Unit searched the canal shallows but found no evidence to assist the investigation.

Despite his image appearing numerous times in local and national media, Jordan – who would now be 26-years-old – has never been found.

Jordan was a well-known and well-liked young lad who grew up in Moston. He attended the North Manchester school for boys – liked football and supported Manchester United.

Missing Person Safeguarding Officer Julie Potts of GMP’s City of Manchester Division, said: “As with other long-term missing persons, we endeavour to work in the belief that Jordan is alive and well, and will one day return home or be found.

“But we also have to take into consideration that something may have happened to him and there remains serious concerns over his disappearance. . He was only 16 when he was last seen by his family in August 2008 and there have been no confirmed sightings of him since that date.

“The past ten years have been filled with unbearable anguish for his family – particularly his aunt who has never stopped searching for him.

“Today – on the tenth anniversary of his disappearance – we want to remind people about Jordan in the hope that someone might recognise him or perhaps remember seeing him.

“Perhaps you remember being in the vicinity of Tib Street and seeing something that appeared out of place.

“Sometimes the smallest fragment of information can lead to important new lines of enquiry.

“As the years pass; memories fade – but we will never forget Jordan or give up the search for him.”

His auntie, Kimberley Pierce, said: “ Jordan, it has been 10 years since we last saw you. We have not forgotten you. We love and miss you. Please come home.”

Jordan is described as white, of medium build, 5ft 7ins tall with short ginger hair and brown eyes. At the time of his disappearance he was wearing a black and grey jacket, black Nike tracksuit bottoms and black trainers.

Anyone with information can call police on 0161 856 (8499/2234) or the non-emergency number 101 quoting GMP Reference number MP/08/0033757.

Alternatively you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or the charity Missing People on Freephone 11600.