THE pregnant wife of a man who is believed to have run away with a 16-year-old girl has spoken of her anguish.

Abandoned mother-of-three Mary Peters, 24, has not heard from her husband John, 31, since he vanished from their home in Peacehaven nearly three weeks ago.

Police believe the unemployed father has fled to Brighton with 16-year-old Pamela Tomsett, who became increasingly friendly with Mr Peters shortly before she disappeared on the same night.

Mrs Peters, who is three months pregnant and has three children between the ages of one and six, has been left devastated.

She said: "I have had my mobile switched on 24 hours a day and have had no sleep at all. The children are begging for their dad. I haven't got any idea why he would do something like this. He always said he would tell me if he met someone else."

Mr Peters disappeared from the family home in Trafalgar Close on October 4, taking his birth and marriage certificates with him. Pamela Tomsett, from East Chiltington, also failed to return to her sister Sheila's house in Hoddern Avenue, Peacehaven, where she was staying at the time.

Mrs Peters is best friends with Sheila Tomsett, and they soon put two and two together and realised what had happened.

Police say the couple visited relatives of Mr Peters in Brighton on October 5, but have not been seen since.

Both families are frantic with worry and say the pair left with no warning.

Her voice trembling with emotion, Mrs Peters said: "I keep trying his mobile, but it's switched off. A couple of months ago I had my doubts about them, but they put me off the scent.

"She used to come round every weekend with Sheila. I thought something wasn't right between them and asked John if he liked her but he said: 'She's just a little girl'.

"He has never done anything like this before. He was being really nice to me before he left so I couldn't work it out. People have tried to make out it was him that led her on, but it takes two to tango."

She added: "I have got mixed emotions and my head is going round in circles. I am feeling angry and down. I would like him to come back or even just ring up to speak to the children. I wouldn't have him back, he's hurt me now and it's been too long. But for the sake of the children he needs to get in contact."

The family of the missing teenager are distraught and her father, John Wickens, 73, has spent every day since her disappearance driving around the streets of Brighton searching for his daughter. Mr Wickens, a Romany gipsy, lives in a caravan in East Chiltington with his common-law wife, who is also called Pamela Tomsett.

He said: "She just disappeared, there was no warning at all. I have had no rest since. If she could just speak to us on the phone or come home and let us know she was all right."

Police say they are becoming increasingly concerned for the teenager. But they have stressed there is no suggestion Pamela is being held against her will.

Insp Chas MacInnes said: "She is

still only 16, and the family don't

know where she is or that she is not in trouble. We want her to contact

the family and let them know she is OK."

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