Police track car used by suspect in Wales case

Police in Wales searching for missing Irish woman Catherine Gowing are trying to trace the movements of a car used by the man charged with her murder.

The development comes as police continue their search for the Offaly woman at a disused quarry and woodland, just 4km from her home in New Brighton in Flintshire, north Wales.

Ms Gowing’s car was found burnt out at the woodlands in Alltami, near Mold, last Friday, a week after she was last seen at a nearby supermarket.

The senior investigating officer yesterday said the strength and dignity of Ms Gowing’s family — who remain in north Wales — was “an inspiration to us all”.

DCI Mark Pierce of North Wales Police said: “Specialist search teams have carried out searches in a number of locations in north Wales and continue to search a quarry and adjacent woodland in Alltami, near Mold where Catherine’s Renault Clio registration 00D 99970 was discovered last Friday.

“Those searches are assisted by Crime Scene Investigators and conducted in a methodical and thorough way to ensure we take every opportunity which may help us to find Catherine.”

DCI Pierce said a cordon would remain in place at the location while a comprehensive search and forensic examination took place.

“I am very grateful for the assistance the local community have already provided and I am once gain asking for their help,” he said.

In the latest development in the investigation, DCI Pierce said: “I am now very keen to trace the movements of a vehicle owned and used by Clive Sharpe between Friday 12th October and Monday 15th October. Sharpe owns a black Volvo S40 car registration number AG58 JHE.

“Please look at the photographs of his car. Did you see this vehicle at anytime between approximately 10pm on Friday 12th October and 6pm on Monday 15th October. I am particularly interested in any sightings of this vehicle close to Catherine’s home in New Brighton, or, in fact, anywhere in the Flintshire or Cheshire border areas.”

He said Ms Gowing was had not been seen since around 8.40pm on Friday, Oct 12, when she was seen on CCTV leaving an Asda supermarket in Queensferry. DCI Pierce said that, since that time, Gwynedd man Clive Sharpe, 46, had been charged with her murder.

He said Ms Gowing’s family — represented by her sister Emma and her husband Shay — remain in north Wales and are assisting them: “They are being informed of developments and supported by specialist Family Liaison Officers.

“Their strength and dignity have been an inspiration to us all, and on their behalf I’d implore that if you have any information, no matter how insignificant you think it is, please contact the police,” said DCI Pierce.