Police issue update on missing LCpl Ryan Rudd as parents say they are devastated

North Yorkshire Police has renewed its appeal to help locate missing Lance Corporal Ryan Rudd – one month on from when he was last seen.

LCpl Rudd, a member of 1st Battalion, The Royal Yorkshire Regiment, has been missing since the early hours of Sunday 15 February.

He had been out earlier that night with friends in Selby, marking Valentine's Day.

A senior officer involved in the investigation has now conceded the possibility that the missing soldier may have entered the River Ouse.

North Yorkshire Police said: "This weekend marks one month since Ryan Rudd, 28, did not return to his barracks after a night out in Selby.

"Since the original report, officers have carried out detailed enquiries, including CCTV trawls from across the area as well as door-to-door enquiries.

"Specialist teams have searched key locations on both land and water using equipment such as police drones to scour hard-to-reach areas."

Parents devastated

LCpl Rudd's parents, Kerstin and Ken, have released a new image of Ryan and said they are devastated by their son's disappearance.

"As a family, we are devastated and struggling to put into words how we feel," Kerstin and Ken said.

"We would ask anyone who has even the smallest piece of information that could help bring Ryan home to please contact the police. We are desperate to have him back."

Inspector Ciaran Conlon of North Yorkshire Police confirmed specialist officers are supporting LCpl Rudd's family.

He added that while officers remained open-minded as to the circumstances around the junior non-commissioned officer's whereabouts, "we must accept the possibility that Ryan has entered the River Ouse".

Army took two weeks to raise alarm

BFBS Forces News previously reported that it took commanders from LCpl Rudd's unit, 1 R Yorks, two weeks to raise the alarm over his absence from duties.

LCpl Rudd was expected on duty just 24 hours after he was last seen, yet North Yorkshire Police only received a missing persons report on 1 March.

An Army source previously confirmed enquiries were ongoing as to why the chain of command failed to report Ryan's status as missing.

Ryan is described as white, around 5ft 8in tall, of slim build, with dark brown hair. When he was last seen, he was wearing a black T-shirt, a blue hooded top and black trousers.

Police are urging anyone with information as to Ryan's whereabouts to call 999, quoting the reference number 12260037725.