Shelley Pratt Pic : Police

The parents of a missing girl from Croydon have made a plea for help to find their daughter.

Shelley Pratt, 14, was last seen November 8 getting off a bus on Portland Road.

Her parents, Lisa and Tony Pratt, spoke at a press conference Friday, November 30: “Shellz, you’re not in trouble. We love you and we miss you.

“Your brothers and sisters are missing you like mad. Nanny is not well, she just keeps crying for you.”

She is one of six children and her parents fear for the worst. Mrs Pratt said: “My instinct tells me someone has got her and is not letting her go. My gut feeling is saying she has got herself into a situation which she can’t get out of it.

She has not contacted any family members or friends since going missing. Police believe she is currently with somebody in a building, house or flat.

Shelley Pratt went missing for three days last year but was then found under the bed of a 19-year-old man, according to her parents.

The police have renewed appeals for her whereabouts and will be handing out leaflets around the Croydon Town Centre this weekend. She had her image shown during a Crystal Palace home game against Brighton today.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Dunne said: “I am encouraging people, particularly Croydon residents, to be ‘nosy neighbours’ and be extra vigilant as to the movements of any young people who are new to the area.

“It has now been three weeks since Shelley went missing and concerns for her safety are understandably increasing by the day.

“I would also encourage people to look at her picture closely.”

She was last seen wearing school uniform trousers and a dark purple hooded jumper with the slogan ‘I love (heart symbol) London.’

Anyone with information about Shelley’s whereabouts is urged to call the incident room on 020 8721 4906.