Renewed appeal over man missing since 1996

A man who disappeared nearly 30 years ago after returning from a camping trip would have been celebrating his 59th birthday.

Stephen Michael Cole was aged 30 when he returned from an outdoor break in Wales. A friend helped him take his camping gear in, before Mr Cole said he was going out for a drink on 23 June 1996.

West Midlands Police officers, who have renewed an appeal for his whereabouts as they try to establish what happened to him, said Mr Cole never turned up to meet his parents, as had been arranged.

When it was discovered he was missing from his home in Walsall, his tent and sleeping bag had also gone.

Police said since then, there had been no trace of him.

"It is possible Stephen took his camping gear and went back to Wales for some reason, but there has been no sign of life from him since he was last seen," a spokesman for the force said.

Mr Cole, who had been camping in Betws-y-Coed in North Wales, had been a keen outdoor adventurer, who regularly went climbing, walking and camping.

According to police Mr Cole was said to have been in good spirits when he left his house in Dora Street, Pleck, before he was reported missing.

Mr Cole was 5ft 9in, with blue eyes and short, well-groomed brown hair.

He was last seen wearing blue jeans and tan boots, with a bright pink short-sleeved polo neck jumper. Police said he wore a gold ring and a bracelet on his right hand.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the force.

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