Laurence Dollimore
SPANISH police are no closer to finding out what happened to a British father and son who disappeared from the Costa del Sol four weeks ago.
Daniel and Liam Poole, aged 46 and 22, were last seen in Estepona on April 1 while enjoying a six day break together.
But after reportedly spending around €12 in an internet cafe in the seaside town, there is no recorded activity from the two men.
“The investigation remains open but we do not have any significant leads,” Policia Nacional told the Olive Press today.
“We are still treating it as a missing persons case.”
It comes after the brother of Daniel detailed the family’s ongoing heartache back in Sussex.
Laurence Poole, 43, also from Sussex, said he is fearing the worst while Daniel’s other two children, aged 19 and 17, are ‘absolutely terrified’.
“I’m beginning to fear the worst,” he told the Olive Press, “it’s been too long for them to be missing something’s not right.
“It’s so difficult because you want to be as positive as you can but you need to be realistic about the situation.”
He added that it was still a complete mystery as to what could have happened to his brother and nephew, who vanished from Estepona more than two weeks ago.
“I’ve got no clue as to what actually happened.
“There’s been so much speculation, people have told me he was there to buy a car and others said he was looking at a property along the Costa del Sol but we just don’t know.
“The police seem to have no answers yet or if they do they are remaining tight lipped.”
Laurence added that he knows something is wrong because every time he goes away Daniel makes sure to call his kids.
“When he’s been away snowboarding or on a lads trip he makes sure to call his kids every day so we know something is up.”
It comes after Policia Nacional in Estepona told this paper this week that there has been no significant development in the pair’s disappearance.
They said the the investigation ‘remains open’ but that there is ‘nothing yet to report’.
“There is nothing new to report on this case that we can share with the press,” the police force said.
“The investigation remains open.”
Daniel, 46, a car mechanic and Liam, 22, a computer technician, vanished from Estepona on April 1.
One British expat told the Olive Press she spotted Daniel on a dating app.
The Brit said she recognised him from the Olive Press appeal and took a screenshot of his profile.
She attempted to match with him in the hope of being able to contact him but received no response.
Daniel described himself as a business owner in his profile and said he was not looking for hook ups but was ‘up for meeting people’.
His profile showing up after the date of his disappearance does not mean he was actively on his phone as the profiles can be selected for any user several days in advance.
The family is now ‘sick with worry’ after not hearing from them since April 1 at around 6.30pm.
“This is completely out of character for them,” Daniel’s ex-partner Tara Poole told the Olive Press, “they never have their phones off and always keep in touch, we are so worried.
“The last time we spoke it was a normal conversation, everything seemed fine,” Tara said.
Their last known whereabouts was at an internet cafe in Estepona, where Liam’s account, which his girlfriend has internet access to, shows they spent around €12.
“We think they bought sim cards there to use their phones for the week.
“We are trying to piece together what happened from there but none of it makes sense.
“We think they might have been caught up in something bad.”
Alan Fenn of Sussex Police said of the father and son’s disappearance: “This is extremely unusual behaviour from Daniel and Liam. They have been on holiday together before but never have they lost contact with family members.
“We, and their family, are eager to hear from anyone who has made contact with either Daniel or Liam.”
If you have seen the pair or know of there whereabouts contact Sussex police immediately.
Daniel is described as white, 5ft 9in, of a stocky build and has short, grey hair.
Liam is white, 6ft tall, medium-sized and has short, light-brown hair.
