Police searching for a man who went missing after being chased by five males outside a pub during a night out have found a body.
Luke Jobson, 22, was last seen near Yarm School in the Teesside town at about 02:15 GMT on Saturday. Cleveland police believe he was involved in an altercation outside The Keys pub before he disappeared. Two 16-year-old boys and 18-year-old man have came forward and are to be questioned by officers.
Cleveland Police said: “Police searching for missing 22-year-old Luke Jobson have sadly found a body in the river at Yarm this afternoon.
“Although formal identification has yet to take place, Luke’s family has been notified and they are being kept updated while they receive support from specially trained officers.”
Mr Jobson’s aunt Kelly Jobson said: “Luke has been chased from Yarm High Street by five lads.
“He was seen to have jumped over the wall of Yarm School and that was the last sighting of him.”
A force spokesman said: “Although formal identification has yet to take place, Luke’s family has been notified and they are being kept updated while they receive support from specially trained officers.”
Mr Jobson’s family appealed on Facebook for his whereabouts and it has been shared over 59,000 times. His cousin made an appeal on facebook to find his “best friend and cousin”.
Police had asked members of the public to not search as they should leave it to trained professionals but around 100 people turned up near Yarm School.
In a statement earlier police said: “While we completely understand their concern and distress at his disappearance we have to warn anyone who turns up that unfortunately we cannot facilitate public searches at this stage as specially trained police search teams remain in the area.
“Furthermore Yarm School grounds are private property and it would be inappropriate for people to turn up and access this land.
“Again, we acknowledge this public search was organised in the very best interests of Luke and his family but we would ask them to work with police and be guided by experienced and specially trained officers who are well versed in safe, resource effective search methods.”
