Missing girl, 13, ‘taken to Poland after parents’ split’
A schoolgirl who went missing on Friday is believed to have been taken to Poland by a friend of her mother.
The disappearance of serena Alexander-Benson sparked a police manhunt when she failed to turn up at her private school and was later spotted boarding a Eurotunnel train at Folkestone with an older woman.
But yesterday officers revealed they believe the 13-year- old is now in Poland, where her Polishborn mother sylvie AlexanderBenson, 53, returned after a bitter divorce from her daughter’s father about three years ago.
serena’s father gavin Benson, 48, last saw his daughter early on Friday when she left the family home in Wimbledon, south-west london, wearing her uniform.
When she did not arrive at the £12,000-a-year holy cross school in nearby New Malden, Mr Benson, a senior management consultant, reported her missing.
Police yesterday said they believed the woman spotted with serena at the Eurotunnel terminal in Kent was a Polish national living in london, a friend of serena’s mother, who then drove the teenager to Poland. The Met Police also revealed they were working with the National crime Agency, which tackles serious and organised crime, and Polish authorities to establish serena’s exact whereabouts before considering whether any crimes have been committed.
Mrs Alexander-Benson is registered as a director at a foreign language school in south-west Poland, according to government records.
serena’s disappearance comes after her parents’ marriage came to a bitter end three years ago. Neighbours reported hearing rows coming from the family home at the time.
one said: ‘ There was definitely acrimony. she [Mrs AlexanderBenson] was very emotional. she came round several times in tears, she was desperately upset.
‘We didn’t want to get involved but when they were having divorce rows it was not easy.’
The Met Police said last night: ‘Enquiries have established that serena left the UK at Folkestone on May 25 on a Eurotunnel train. she was travelling in a car with a female friend of her mother’s who is a Polish national who lives in london.
‘Active lines of inquiry are being pursued by officers working with the National crime Agency and the Polish authorities.
‘At this stage, the priority of officers is to confirm serena’s exact whereabouts and confirm that she is safe. Any potential offences will be considered in due course.’
Andrea lucas, acting headmistress of holy cross school, said: ‘The pupil and her family are in our thoughts and prayers.’ Mr Benson declined to comment.