NICOLA Bulley’s family have broken their silence after cops working on her case received backlash for deeming her “high risk”.
The dog walker, 45, disappeared after dropping her children off at school in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire, on Friday January 27.
5Nicola Bulley hasn’t been seen since January 27Credit: Tim Stewart
5Detectives said yesterday Nicola had struggled with ‘issues with alcohol’Credit: PA
5Today her family broke their silenceCredit: Tim Stewart
5Nicola vanished while walking her dog along a towpath on the River WyreSince then there has been no trace of the mum-of-two, leaving her family in agony despite extensive searches.
Yesterday cops said the mum-of-two had “significant issues with alcohol” as a result of menopause.
They also revealed they’d been called to the family’s home after “a report of concern for welfare” just weeks before Nicola vanished.
Today her family has spoken out for the first time since the claims were made.
In a statement they said: “As a family, we were aware that Lancashire Police, last night, released a statement with some personal details.
“Although we know that Nikki would not have wanted this, there are people out there threatening to sell stories about her. This is appalling and needs to stop.
“The police know the truth about Nikki and now the public need to focus on finding her.
“Due to the peri menopause Nikki suffered with significant side effects such as brain fog, restless sleep and was taking HRT to help but this was giving her intense headaches which caused Nikki to stop taking the HRT thinking that may have helped her but only ended up causing this crisis.
“The public focus has to be on finding her and not making up wild theories about her personal life.”
It comes after cops have been slammed by many for “destroying” the mum’s reputation.
Broadcaster Fern Britton, 65, said in a tweet: ”I am uncomfortable with the latest news suggesting that Nicola Bulley has an issue with alcohol and menopause.
“The undertone is that she maybe ‘a bit unstable’ or perhaps even ‘not in her right mind.’ Too easy to write a woman off like this. What lies behind it?”
Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy also questioned the cops decision to publicly reveal the details.
She tweeted: “The decision to disclose this level of detail on a missing person’s private life, with no evidence that this is assisting in finding her, is deeply troubling.
“The police need to be much clearer as to why any of this helps find Nicola Bulley or support this investigation.”
It comes as…
Pals of Nicola have shared their fury, too.
School-run parent Nadia Fell took to Facebook and called the police “bang out of order”.
She also wrote: “I’m absolutely furious.”
Another friend Ann Hodge shared her “frustration” and commented: “Couldn’t agree more.”
The feeling was shared by Mark Williams-Thomas.
The former police officer turned investigative journalist, who helped expose Jimmy Savile’s crimes, is said to now be probing Nicola’s disappearance.
He criticised the police on Twitter saying if police had “dealt with high-risk status at [the] start” it would have lead to less confusion, public hysteria, and media involvement.
Mark also said it would have “led to less damage” for her family, “who are right now after y/day in a terrible place”.
5A police officer walks past a missing person appeal poster for Nicola BulleyCredit: PA
Story Credit: thesun.co.uk