Claudia's dad pleads: "Stop this torment" (From York Press)

Claudia Lawrence's dad pleads: "Stop this torment"

1:56pm Friday 18th March 2011 in Claudia Lawrence By Jennifer Bell, jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk

THE father of missing Claudia Lawrence has pleaded with her abductor to come forward and end his anguish as he marked a poignant anniversary of her disappearance.

Peter Lawrence said when Claudia disappeared two years ago today, aged 35, he never imagined he would still have no idea what has happened to her.

Police believe she has been murdered but her family and friends still hope that one day she will come home.

“I don’t know how I keep going but I will,” said Mr Lawrence, speaking at a press conference outside the Roger Kirk centre at the University of York this morning.

“Claudia is my daughter - she was very dear to me and still is. I won’t ever give up hope.

“There have been other people missing for more than two years who have been found.”

Mr Lawrence said despite Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway, the leading officer in the hunt for Claudia, saying he was in no doubt that she had been murdered, he believes his daughter is still alive and is being held against her will. He pleaded with her abductor or anyone else with information to come forward.

“Somebody somewhere knows what has happened to her,” he said. “Search your conscience and come forward and help stop this torment.

“It is high time somebody said what they know.”

Mr Lawrence said returning to the Roger Kirk centre, where Claudia worked as a chef, was “extremely poignant”, while Claudia’s best friend Suzy Cooper described it as “eerie”. She said: “I can imagine her here at work. It feels strange.”

She added: “It has been a very hard two years. Each day is one of torment and torture. Please, somebody knows what happened to Claudia, please come forward.”

Both Ms Cooper and Mr Lawrence said they spent yesterday “quietly” and were supported by family and friends.

Claudia was last seen walking from the university to her Heworth home on March 18, 2009. She did not turn up for work the next day, sparking a national and international police search.

Anyone with information can phone 0845 6060247, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.