Alive and well

MISSING teenager Joanna Ludlow is today safely at home with her father after more than three days on the run.

Joanna, 15, was found shortly before 5pm yesterday at a friend's house in central Swindon following a tip-off to police from someone who had read the Advertiser's appeal for information.

But Joanna, who has promised to return to school and not run away again, said she was oblivious to all the concern she had caused.

Speaking exclusively to the Advertiser she said: "I just want to stay out with my friends I was having fun so I didn't want to go home. I was just hanging around, having a laugh as you do.

"I didn't go to school because I didn't have any clothes with me, but I don't want to stay with my dad because it's boring and I haven't got any friends round here. I wasn't aware of the harm I was causing.

"The police came round and I had to go with them because I didn't have a choice. I was with people I trust and who took care of me. I don't do drugs and I promise I'm not going to run off anymore."

When Joanna disappeared on Monday it was for the fifth time in six months and her parents feared she could end up like Kate Walsh, who died of a suspected heroin overdose in a seedy Manchester Road flat in January.

Even Kate's mother, Debbie Walsh, pleaded for Joanna to return home safely saying she prayed that the missing girl's parents did not have go through the agony she did.

Joanna's father, Graham, of Kingswood Avenue, Park North, said: "I'm glad Joanna is home safe and well, but I am not happy because of the way she is she is 15, but trying to act as if she is 21.

"Joanna is a good kid and I was worried sick that something was going to happen to her. When I read about Kate Walsh I was in tears and it made me think the worst.

"I love her and want her here, but I want my original daughter back because this is not her. I can't believe the things she tells me it will take a long time to sweep all this under the carpet.

"The article in the Advertiser made the police work harder and social services sit up, and it seemed like they were doing things, whereas they were just letting it go before."

Joanna voluntarily went with officers to Swindon police station before being taken to her father's house. Although they did not exercise it, one of the powers open to the officers was a Police Protection Order, which would have given them the power to take Joanna into their care before handing her over to social services.

Inspector David McMullin said: "After seeing Thursday's Evening Advertiser a person gave us information and we found Joanna safe and well at an address in central Swindon. It is without doubt thanks to the Advertiser's coverage that Joanna was seen and identified and I'm extremely grateful for that.

"If a person is determined not to act in a responsible way and not realise what people are concerned about it's very difficult for the authorities to try and conclude matters satisfactorily."

Just before Christmas Joanna became pregnant, but had a termination in the New Year. Her mother, Christine, claimed she was staying with a boyfriend twice her age and dabbling in drugs.

She said: "I'm pleased Joanna is safe and well. It's all very well for the time being, but when she is 16 in two weeks time she'll probably run off and live with her boyfriend because she knows the law. She never used to be like this she has changed so much and I'm at a loss what to do.

"I'm really fearing for her because it's just not normal to act like this."

Giles Sheldrick