Family appeal again for information about missing George Smith (From Times Series)

Family appeal again for information about missing George Smith

12:47pm Tuesday 15th September 2009 in

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THE nephew of Barnet father-of-three George Smith has appealed for the 60-year-old to get in touch ahead of his son's 12th birthday.

Today Yanis Smith and George's ex-wife Judith Smith made an emotional appeal outside his Finch Way home, where blood smears have been found in the bathroom among other places.

The retired engineer was last heard from on August 22, when he sent a text message to his younger brother David thanking him for computer equipment.

Yanis, who discovered George was missing when he went to his flat with Judith on August 26, said: “It's very stressful for his children who are 15, 14 and 11.

“It's his 11-year-old son's birthday party soon and he wants to know whether his dad is going to be there for it.

“We're very concerned. George needs his medication to stay alive as he has high blood pressure and we know it's still in the flat.”

He added George was an extremely popular man, known as Uncle George to friends and neighbours and had lived in Graham Park before moving to Barnet six months ago.

“It's not in his nature to go missing, especially when he was due to have seen his children. Even if he was going for a day in Brighton he would have told someone,” said Yanis.

“His youngest was due to go round and see him on the 23rd and he has a key, so I'm glad we didn't send him to find what we did.”

He said the family had been constantly calling each other and other people who knew cider-loving George, who drank in the Red Lion, Weavers and Queens Arms pubs.

He is described as 5ft 9inches tall, with a moustache and a goatee beard, which is mostly grey, and when last seen had a freshly-shaved head.

He has a small dimple on his nose, where it was broken in the past, and usually wears jeans and a shirt.

The case has now been passed to the serious crime unit, although Detective Inspector Glen Lloyd has admitted the case is still a complete “mystery”.

“It is frustrating, as every time I think of a hypothesis something comes along and knocks it down.” he said.

“If we go along the road he's gone away for a couple of weeks, it doesn't work out because of his children.

“He was waiting for a knee replacement so couldn't have walked very far. He used to take a taxi to the High Street.”

He added he was still “hopeful” of finding George alive and the family are remaining positive.

“If he has been attacked in there and then the body has been removed, why was the blood not cleared up? It doesn't make sense,” he said.

“He's a 16-stone man so would not have been easy to move and the area outside his flat is very open, so it's likely someone would have seen something.

“What we need now is for anyone who used to see George on a regular basis and may have seen him before he disappeared to come forward, as they may have information they don't think is important, which could really help us.”

Police have been monitoring bank transactions and any mobile phone use in a bid to track down the pensioner.

Two people, a man and a woman, have been arrested over his disappearance and bailed to return to police in October pending further inquiries.

Anyone with information can telephone officers on 0208 358 0400, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.