Mum of missing teen in Cornwall relaunches desperate appeal five years on
17-year-old Finn Layland-Stratfield was last seen in Tintagel on the 8th of July 2017
Last updated 8th Jul 2022
The mum of a missing teenager from Cornwall has relaunched a desperate appeal to find him, five years on since he disappeared.
17-year-old Finn Layland-Stratfield was last seen in Tintagel on the 8th of July 2017.
The last sighting of Finn was near Tintagel’s youth hostel, confirmed by a nearby walker. On the following evening, at around 5:30pm, Finn’s rucksack containing his belongings was found on a cliff above Hole Beach.
His mum, Bek, is working with the charity Missing People to continue to promote his missing appeal and raise awareness of his disappearance.
Finn is described as White European and is 5’ 9” with a slim build and blue eyes. At the time he was last seen, he had dark brown, collar-length hair. He was clean-shaven with a fair complexion. Finn has a tattoo of ‘Noah 2005’ written on his inner left forearm, and a tattoo of a salamander on the right of his upper back. He was last seen wearing a blue hooded jacket with ‘SuperDry’ written across its chest and ripped grey/black jeans.
Since his disappearance, Finn’s mum, Bek, has tirelessly led search efforts in the hopes that he will be found safe and well.
Bek has organised numerous charity walks with friends, family and supporters in efforts to raise awareness. These have included walking the breadth of Cornwall twice and most recently walking for 24 hours straight.
In recent developments, Bek joined Missing People’s annual Find Every Child Week campaign for 2022. In May, she participated in a ‘Messages to the Long-Term Missing’ video, sending Finn a heartfelt message. In it, she said: “There’s so many messages but, you know, we all love you and miss you so much. All your family, all your friends around here. Everyone, the whole community. Everyone misses you, and we love you with all our hearts and you’re never from our thoughts.”
Marking Missing Children’s Day, Missing People featured Finn’s missing poster for special campaign, which brought his still appeal image to life.
This partnership was made possible thanks to digital board company Ocean Outdoor, creative agency Engine, and AI experts D-ID. Finn’s appeal was part of a pilot to redesign regular missing posters with changes based in behavioural science, with the view of making them more eye-catching, clearer, and more action-oriented.
Reflecting on the campaign, Bek said: “Seeing a moving image of Finn was quite amazing in many ways and so hard at the same time. The news that the campaign had reached so many people was incredible and shows how important continuing to raise awareness of Finn and other missing people is.”
To help the search, the public can visit Finn’s web appeal here. From there, they can report a sighting, download his Missing appeal as a poster, and share it as widely as possible, either through Facebook or Twitter.
Missing People’s Publicity Officer, Ndella Senghore, said: “If anyone has any information about Finn’s disappearance, they can contact Missing People’s helpline. Finn, if you are reading this, please get in touch. You can call us on 116 000 or email 116000@missingpeople.org.uk.
"Our service is non-judgemental, confidential, and free thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. We just want to provide you with the support you need and help you to be safe.
"The helpline is here to support people who are missing or thinking of going missing and their loved ones who are left behind and is operated by trained staff and volunteers."
Sightings and information about any missing person can also be given anonymously through the Missing People website here.