Search for missing student continues

Police do not think Miss Stephenson has run away

The search is continuing for a missing student who disappeared after telling friends she was going to interview homeless people as part of her university degree course.

Victoria Stephenson, 19, has not been seen since Tuesday afternoon and detectives are growing increasingly concerned for her safety.

She left the Manchester Metropolitan University campus in Didsbury at about 1230 GMT to get a bus on Wilmslow Road into the city centre.

Miss Stephenson, who lives in halls of residence in Daisy Bank Road, Longsight, is originally from West Norwood, London.

The alarm was raised after she failed to meet her friend at 1600 GMT in the All Saints Building near the city's university area.

She also did not return to her halls of residence in the evening.

We believe it was her intention to speak to someone who is homeless

Det Sup Peter Minshall

Detective Superintendent Peter Minshall said: "We do not know for certain if Vicky ever made it to the city centre, although she told friends she was intending to go there as part of her coursework and interview members of the homeless community.

"We do not believe Vicky has simply run away as this type of behaviour is completely out of character as she has made a number of close friends since joining the university and stays in regular contact with them via a mobile phone."

Mr Minshall said Miss Stephenson had been operating against university advice and travelled alone.

Mobile message

He added: "As part of her course... she had to complete a project in which she had to find an individual aged over 50 who had had a full life.

"We believe it was her intention to speak to someone who is homeless."

Her mobile phone has not been used since she sent a text message on Tuesday afternoon to a friend.

Mr Minshall said the number had been tried and it was believed the telephone had been switched off.

He made a specific plea to homeless people in Manchester city centre to come forward if they had seen Miss Stephenson.

Sheila Aynsley-Smith, head of student services at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: "We are extremely concerned about Vicky's disappearance and will be helping the police with their inquiries."

Ms Aynsley-Smith said Miss Stephenson had been advised to take a friend with her when she was to interview a homeless person.

"We would not want students to be in a risky situation alone," she said.

Helpline

Several of the missing student's friends and family have travelled to Manchester where they are being supported by police family liaison officers.

Miss Stephenson is white, 5ft tall, of medium build with short brown hair cut in a bob and a nose piercing.

She has a southern accent and was last seen wearing jeans and a knee-length maroon leather jacket.

Anyone with information about Miss Stephenson's whereabouts is asked to contact police on 0161 856 4251.