Tearful mother praises ‘team effort’

SHEVAUN PENNINGTON’S mother wept yesteday as she thanked police for the “team effort” that brought her daughter home.

Joanna Pennington said her main feeling was one of “relief” after her daughter, Shevaun, flew back to Britain this afternoon.

Following a tearful reunion at Leigh police station near Wigan, Greater Manchester, Mrs Pennington, 42, said: “I cannot tell you how relieved I am. It is such a turnaround from the situation days ago, which seems years ago. It is absolutely fantastic.”

Her husband, Stephen, 43, said he was so glad his daughter was alright and already back with the family.

Mrs Pennington added the first thing she said to her daughter once she had been driven back to the police station from Manchester Airport, where she had been met from officers from Greater Manchester Police, was to ask how she was.

She said: “I said ‘How are you’ and ‘give us a hug’. She gave me a hug and said she was not too bad. We will take it from there.” Her father added that she had seemed “well enough” when they were reunited around 3.30pm.

He said: “She seemed well enough. I asked if she was tired, she said she was alright. From now on, we just carry on with our lives as best we can.”

His wife added: “I don’t think anybody could have even written this. It has been unbelievable. It is like living your life seeing it as if you are looking in.

“I cannot describe it. I’m still coming to terms with it and getting my head round what’s happened.”

Asked how long it would be before normal life could resume, she added: “A long time. But we will be working towards that.”

Mr and Mrs Pennington then said they had received a phone call from their daughter yesterday morning in which she told them she was coming home.

Mrs Pennington said: “It was fantastic because I was hoping and praying. It was the call we wanted to hear.

“She knew she was wanted back so yes, it was a good phone call, the best one I have ever had.”