A video has emerged showing youths taking down a poster seeking to help find a missing teen.

The video shows a poster for missing Lewis Penfold-Roche, 18, who was last seen in Billingham on January 28, being removed amid reports of posters being taken down in the area.

The footage captured on CCTV shows a group of three remove the poster from a lamppost before walking away.

Cleveland Police have said it was “disappointing” to see posters being taken down and condemned the behaviour as “unacceptable.”

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “It is disappointing that anyone would remove posters which appeal for information about missing Lewis Penfold-Roche.

“This kind of behaviour is unacceptable and is likely to cause distress to those who know Lewis. 

The Northern Echo: Police and mountain rescue teams have continued their search for Lewis Penfold-Roche, 18, at

“We continue to appeal for information regarding missing Lewis and urge anyone who may have seen him or may know of his whereabouts to contact Cleveland Police on 101 or report online at Public Portal (mipp.police.uk).”

Lewis was last seen on Station Road in Billingham at around 6pm on Sunday (January 28), heading towards Central Avenue.

Searches are currently being carried out by specialist police search teams in wooded areas near to Billingham Beck Valley Country Park towards Billingham Golf Club, which is close to where Lewis was last seen.The Northern Echo:

Parts of this area have already been searched previously, officers are today (February 14) widening the parameters of the ground search.

Police have urged informal search parties not to search this area as there are hazardous conditions due to the current weather.

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Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Chris Pringle, said: "Today there are specially trained search teams from Cleveland Police who are searching wooded areas near to where Lewis was last seen.

The Northern Echo:

"Whilst we still have no specific information to suggest that Lewis went into this area, we are today widening our search parameters from Billingham Beck Valley Country Park up towards Billingham Golf Club. These officers are looking for anything of significance which could lead us to help find Lewis."

Any CCTV, dash cam or ring doorbell footage of Lewis can be uploaded here: https://unitedkingdom1cpp-portal.digital-policing.co.uk/cleveland/appeal/missing-person-lewis-penfold?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Orlo