UK: Three arrests over murder of prostitute missing since 1995

Three men have been arrested over the kidnap and murder of Sallyann John 20 years ago. The 23-year-old disappeared on 8 September 1995 while working as a prostitute. She was last seen on Aylesbury Street. Her body has never been found.

The case was initially treated as a missing persons inquiry but became a murder investigation last year.

On Monday (14 September) police conducted a forensic search of her former home in Nythe, Swindon, where they uncovered several "items of note". Ground penetrating radar and dogs from South Wales Police were used in the search.

A Wiltshire Police spokeswoman confirmed the arrests saying: "Two men aged 50 and 52 years from Swindon, and a 52-year-old from Chippenham have all been arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder. They were all taken into custody at Gablecross Police Station in Swindon where they currently remain."

Last year, Sallyann's mother Lesley made an emotional appeal for help in resolving the mystery of her daughter's disappearance, in the hope it would "ease our suffering".

Speaking at a news conference she said: "She was a bright and beautiful girl who could make anyone smile. She had lots of friends in Swindon and many people knew her," "Someone out there knows what happened to Sally and it is horrible to think that she might have been hurt or alone."

New appeal posters have been distributed around her former flat in Kimmeridge Close and Station Road and Aylesbury Street, where she was last seen.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.