The family of a missing man have made an emotional plea for help finding him.
Chris May, 28, has not been seen for more than two weeks and concern continues to grow from both his family and Essex Police about his welfare.
His father, Peter May, was the last person to see him after Chris visited him at his Coggeshall home on May 25 – the day before Chris was due to start a new job with a friend to build tennis courts.
Mr May said: “The last time I saw Chris on the Monday he popped over to see me for maybe five minutes. It was just another day.
“There was nothing to suggest that he would go missing.
“Chris has never even been on holiday for two weeks or not spoken to his family or friends for this long. It is so out of character.
“We miss his smile. He is a big kid and is adored by all the children.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve and is always one to try and lift the mood.
“He is a real joker, everyone’s favourite person. That’s why he has so many friends.”
Chris, a former Honywood School pupil, has a brother Daniel, 31, and three sisters, Charlene, 30, Gemma 26, and Kelly 24, as well as three nieces and two nephews.
His mum Lorraine, from Halstead, said: “It’s Kelly’s birthday on Friday and there is no reason why Chris would not speak to his sister on her birthday.
“The best birthday present she could have is news that Chris is OK.
“Since he went missing everything has stopped for us. You hope that every day when you wake up that you’re going to hear something, even just to know he is OK.
“Obviously we want him to come home but even just to know he was alright would be better than this.”
Chris’ family have previously said the disappearance was “tearing them apart”.
Detectives searched Chris’ home in Mount Road, Kelvedon, last week in a bid to find clues.
Searches have also been focused around Troy’s Chase in Fairstead where his car, a silver Volkswagen Golf, was found abandoned two days after his disappearance.
Detective Chief Inspector Marina Ericson said: “We are still looking for anyone who may have seen the car arrive in that road to contact us.
“It is completely out of character for Chris, who was known to some as Jay, to not have spoken to his friends or family for this long.
“The more time which passes where Chris has not been in contact leads me to have to consider the possibility that Chris may have come to some harm.
“I urge anyone with information to contact my team as soon as possible so we can find out what has happened.”
Anyone with any information should call detectives on 101, email scdappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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