Gaia Pope
Gaia Pope has not been seen since 7 November Handout

KEY POINTS

  • 49-year-old man who is known to the teenager arrested on suspicion of her murder.
  • Arrest follows discovery of woman's clothes in field in Swanage.
  • 19-year-old not seen since 7 November.

A third person has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the disappearance of Gaia Pope. The 19-year-old has not been seen since the afternoon of 7 November, with police finding items of women's clothing in a field near Swanage close to an address where she had been staying.

Dorset Police have now arrested a 49-year-old man on suspicion of murder while they continue to search for Pope. The man, from the Swanage area, is believed to have been known to the 19-year-old

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Two other suspects, aspiring actor Nathan Elsey, 19, and his 71-year-old grandmother Rosemary Dinch, were previously arrested on suspicion of murder and have since been released under investigation.

A cordon is in place following the discovery of items of women's clothing in a field near Swanage. The discovery was made on 16 November, by a member of the public in an area of open land north of the coastal path.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: "The owner of the clothes has not yet been identified, but detectives involved in the search for missing Gaia Pope have informed her family of this discovery."

Senior Investigating Officer Neil Devoto, of Dorset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team, said: "Following the discovery of these items of clothing, a full and thorough search will now take place in the field and surrounding area. We have seized the clothing and investigations will now be carried out to identify who they belong to.

"We have updated Gaia's family who continue to be supported by specially-trained officers. Our thoughts remain with them at this very difficult time."

Devoto added: "We are doing everything possible to try and locate Gaia. I would like to renew my appeal to anyone who has information about where Gaia is or what has happened to her to please contact Dorset Police."

Pope was last seen wearing grey and white woven leggings, white trainers and a red checked shirt with white buttons.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 14:108. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.