Victoria Taylor: Mysterious bag mum seen clutching before she vanished could hold key clue

Victoria Taylor disappeared from her home in Malton, North Yorkshire, on September 30 and a CCTV image of her clutching a bag could hold a vital clue, says a former police detective

A “rucksack or bag” that missing mum Victoria Taylor is pictured clutching could hold a key clue into her disappearance, said a former police detective.

Victoria, 34, vanished from her family home in Malton, North Yorkshire, leaving behind her fiancé Matthew and their two-year-old daughter. She was seen on CCTV purchasing a drink at the M&S based at the local BP garage on Welham Road at 11.35am on September 30.

And police have now confirmed a sighting of Victoria which was captured on CCTV at 11.53am the same day at Malton Bus Station on Railway Street. To date, this is the last confirmed sighting of Victoria.

The image shows her wearing a black Adidas puffer jacket with stripes down the sides, blue jeans, camouflage cap and pink/salmon Vans backpack. She is also carrying an unknown item which appears to be a bag.

Over the past week police say they have undertaken extensive enquiries in the search to find the mum-of-one. The investigation has involved the collection and review of CCTV footage and passive data research. They have searched key areas of both land and water and interviewed several witnesses.

And former Met Police detective Peter Bleksley said that he believes that the bag she is seen clutching in the last known footage of her could provide key information into what has happened to her.

He told The Sun: "Victoria can be seen clutching what may be a rucksack or bag of some description very tightly to her chest. Now this footage is just over a week old. but it's clearly something of significance to her. It's not like somebody carrying a shopping bag normally in their hands by their sides.

"It's something she's clutching almost as if you were holding a newborn baby, although I must point out it most definitely is not that. Whatever this is, wherever she's picked it up wherever she's found it, or being given it or purchased it - it means an awful lot to her. And unfortunately we don't know the significance of that just yet."

Her sudden vanishing triggered a huge response from volunteers who have turned out in the hope of finding her. But friend and group administrator for 'The search for Victoria Taylor' Facebook page Charlotte Cundill warned people searching for Victoria to stay safe. It comes as heavy rainfall battered parts of the UK overnight.

"It's a wet day, so please wrap up and go careful," she said. "I'd advise people to stay away from the river banks today if possible due to the weather overnight." The group now has an estimated 8,000 members with volunteers vowing to find "beautiful" Victoria. Last Tuesday, police recovered several personal items belonging to Victoria close to the River Derwent. The area is currently a main area of focus for investigators and the search is expected to continue into the coming days.

In a Monday update, Inspector Martin Dennison from North Yorkshire Police said: “This is an extremely difficult time for Victoria’s family, and we are continuing to do all we can to try and find her. The focus of our search remains the area around the River Derwent and Victoria’s family members are aware of this and the wider strategy that is in place. The family and the police understand the local community wanting to show their support with the searches for Victoria, but we urge people to exercise caution when searching particularly near to the river.”