Nathan Cole: Family make emotional plea for missing man to come home

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Picture of Nathan ColeImage source, Nathan Cole
Image caption,

The 32 year-old was last seen in Walthamstow on Saturday 21 January

The family of a man missing for more than week have issued a heartfelt plea for him to return home.

Nathan Cole, 32, from Notting Hill, was last seen walking along Banbury Road in Walthamstow, east London, at 23:17 GMT on Saturday 21 January.

The Met Police has released CCTV footage of his last known movements.

His father Eamonn Cole said: "We just want him to come home. We all love him very, very much; he is loved by very many people. We need him home".

It is thought Nathan had been planning to attend a gig in Camden, but did not end up going.

The Met said he had paid for four cans of lager at a shop in Blackhorse Lane, E17, at 22:05 GMT.

He then boarded a 158 bus in the direction of Chingford and got off outside Walthamstow Academy at 22:55.

Media caption,

CCTV footage released for missing Nathan Cole from Notting Hill

About 10 minutes later he was picked up on residential CCTV walking along Billet Road.

The last confirmed sighting of him was at 23:17 GMT, walking west along nearby Banbury Road in the direction of the River Lea.

Police have said his phone was active in the area near the former Ikea store in Glover Drive in Edmonton over an hour later, but so far there has been no confirmation Mr Cole was in possession of his phone at that time.

Det Sgt Julie Morrow, from the Central West Missing Persons Unit, said: "More than a week has gone by since Nathan's family had any contact with him.

"They are obviously extremely worried and while we are doing all we can to support them we really need the public's help as we continue our search."

'Out of character'

Mr Cole worked at the London School of Economics and previously worked as a teacher.

The family grew up in Highams Park, near where Mr Cole went missing, and said he liked the area and knew it well.

Image caption,

Nathan Cole's family have urged anyone with information to contact police

His family have described him as a "selfless, gregarious and outgoing" person, and say his disappearance is "out of character".

His sister Hannah Cole said she "knew from the outset" that something was out of the ordinary, especially as he had not turned up for work.

"Nathan would never do this," she said. "He didn't show up to his job; that's even more concerning. He loved his job, he loved his family."

'Very hard for us'

She continued: "If anyone was in that Tottenham, Walthamstow area, what were you doing? Was anything or anyone out of character?

"If you did see anything suspicious please let the police know."

Luke Cole, the youngest brother in the family, said: "I just urge anyone who has brothers or sisters to please keep a look out. It's very hard for us, we've lost one of our five now."

Anyone who saw or spoke to Mr Cole has been urged to contact police.

Officers have also urged anyone who lives in the area where he was last seen to check their CCTV or doorbell cameras, as "no piece of information is too small."

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