A WOMAN who has been missing for more than two weeks is an agoraphobic who had not stepped outside her York home in 13 years.

Police have revealed missing Mandy Bishop was also the sole carer for her mother, who has terminal cancer, while her father had also recently died. It is not yet known whether she had any other relatives.

Detective Chief Inspector Helen Taylor, who is leading the search, is now asking people to check garages, outbuildings and sheds for 34-year-old Mandy, who has not been seen since March 22.

She described Mandy as “severely agoraphobic”, saying: “For Mandy to actually leave the house in the first place is very much out of character.

“This is more so as she is the sole carer for her mum, Valerie Bishop, 66, who is seriously ill with cancer, and she also looks after the family’s four dogs.”

Det Chief Insp Taylor also revealed traces of blood had been found at Mandy’s Bishopgate Street home and that, in the weeks leading up to her disappearance, she had made threats to kill herself.

Tests are now being carried out to determine whether the blood relates to Mandy and has any significance to the investigation.

Mandy was reported missing by a family friend at 1pm on Saturday, but it is thought she may have gone missing 12 days earlier.

Police have yet to divulge the reason for the delay between the last-known sighting of Mandy and her disappearance being reported.

Det Chief Insp Taylor said: “Our concern for Mandy’s safety is increasing day by day, particularly as she has not been seen by family or friends for almost two weeks now.

“At the moment, we know very little about Mandy. What we do know is that she suffers from agoraphobia and she has a very small social circle, and I also know that Mandy has threatened recently to self harm.

“The police have been to the home address and traces of blood have been found there which heightens my concern for Mandy. I am concerned she has left her home and requires medical attention.

“I need to fill the gaps in what we already know about Mandy and I would appeal to anyone who has seen Mandy recently or to anyone who might have visited the home address in the last two weeks.”

Det Chief Insp Taylor said Mrs Bishop had been “struggling to cope” since her daughter’s disappearance. She is now being cared for by friends.

She added: “We are doing everything we can to locate her, including searches in the local area and house-to-house enquiries.

“We have also issued a nationwide appeal asking if any police forces around the country have come into contact with a woman matching Mandy’s description.”

Mandy is white, with green eyes, about 5ft tall, and of a very petite build – wearing size eight clothes – and has shoulder-length dark brown hair. She usually wears trousers and a jumper with a black or red coat.

Police have been unable to find a recent picture of Mandy, but have released one of her taken when she was 16.

It has yet to be established what state of mind she was in around the time she is believed to have gone missing. Detectives say she is an animal-lover and may be drawn towards organisations like the Dogs Trust.

Anyone who may have seen or spoken to Mandy in the weeks leading up to her disappearance or may know where she is should contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247 quoting reference number 12100051110. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111.