Andrew Gosden: Father of missing teen who bought London train ticket ‘can’t lose hope’ 15 years on

The father of a young teenage boy who vanished after buying a train ticket to London 15 years ago told how he “can’t afford to lose hope” on the anniversary of his disappearance.

Dad Kevin Gosden, 56, has paid tribute to his missing son Andrew Gosden who disappeared without a trace in September 2007.

14-year-old Andrew went missing from his home in Doncaster, withdrew £200 and bought a one-way ticket to London.

And there have been no confirmed sightings of Andrew since he went missing.

Police and his family believe he boarded a train at 9.35am, arriving at Kings Cross at 11.20am.

CCTV images captured at the station - released by South Yorkshire Police - are the last known sighting, with no further information about his movements corroborated by officers.

Touching tribute

Yesterday, Wednesday, September 14, Kevin shared a touching tribute saying that he still holds out hope that he will see his son again.

He said: “If you let go of that, you just have to give up completely.

“The most difficult thing to deal with is the not knowing, but then the possibility that you might find out something concrete is a little bit torturous.

“And of course there’s an element of fearing what you could find out.”

Since the last known sighting of Andrew, no information about his movements has been corroborated by police, despite a massive manhunt.

Andrew’s family has campaigned hard to try to find what had happened to him over the years, to no avail.

A search was made of the River Thames at one stage, while experts even drew up artists’ impressions of what he would look like as an adult to try to update the search.

His face has featured in campaigns all across the country as missing peoples charities have publicised his case everywhere from on milk cartons to buses.

‘Just horrible’

Kevin added: “It’s impossible to describe. It is just horrible.

“After 15 years, we’re still pretty much in the same place.

“He’s now been missing a year longer than we had him in our lives, which is quite a difficult landmark.

“It’s not like losing a loved one, when you know that they’ve passed away and it takes time but you get through it.

“Whereas we’re stuck endlessly puzzling, wondering, searching and hoping.

“Just going round and round in circles.”

South Yorkshire Police shared a similar tribute on social media saying: “Our thoughts are with Andrew Gosden and his family today as we mark 15 years since his disappearance.”

Kevin has said it has been a “particularly intense” year and he is still waiting for police to provide an update on the investigation.

South Yorkshire Police officers investigating the disappearance made two arrests in London in December 2021.

A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of kidnap, human trafficking and the possession of indecent images of children.

A 38-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of kidnap and human trafficking but both men were released under investigation while enquiries continue.