Fresh appeal over two men who vanished on ferries

Two men who boarded ferries in Portsmouth five years apart have never been seen again, police have said in a renewed appeal, years after they vanished.

Both Gary Tilston, from Coventry, who disappeared in July 2002 aged 30, and Paul Carter, from Birmingham, who was 22 when he went missing in April 2007, boarded vessels to France, but neither were seen to disembark.

In a fresh appeal, police said the two cases were not being treated as linked, but both went missing in similar circumstances.

West Midlands Police said the two men had both booked tickets to travel to Saint-Malo. Mr Tilston has now been missing for more than 23 years and Mr Carter for more than 18.

Officers said Mr Tilston, who would now be 53, boarded a ferry which left Portsmouth at 20:30 BST on 24 July 2002, but there was never any proof that he got off.

His personal property was found on board, including his passport, ID, personal belongings, and house keys.

Police said inquiries had found he might have been drinking in the bar area and had been travelling alone.

‘A place to sleep’

Mr Carter boarded a ferry at about 20:30 BST on 20 April 2007 and was seen on board, but “disappeared without a trace”, police said.

Officers said there was never any proof that he got off once the ferry docked in France.

He had been with three colleagues and was last seen walking around the ferry looking for a place to sleep, police said.

His colleagues each found resting places and they all agreed they would meet the following morning.

However, when the ferry docked on 21 April, Mr Carter was not to be found.

Mr Tilston was described by officers as 5ft 9ins, with a slim build, glasses and had wavy brown hair. He was missing his right index finger on his right hand and had previously had jaw surgery, which might have been noticeable, police said.

Mr Carter, meanwhile, was about 5ft 10ins, with a slim build, short dark brown hair, clean-shaven, and had a tattoo of a snake on his right arm.

Anyone with information on either of the men is asked to contact West Midlands Police.

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