Robert Scott Clive vanished in North Shields in 2002. The case remains unsolved, and police are still investigating.
Scott’s fate remains unknown. Police are searching a North Shields house that Scott visited the night he went missing. The investigation continues today as we look at the case’s details.
Scott moved from Scotland ten months before his disappearance. He lived in a Prudhoe Terrace bedsit. His family in Scotland reported him missing after they hadn’t heard from him in days.
Police initially treated it as a missing person case. Weeks later, they launched a murder probe, despite finding no body. Detectives made public appeals for information and released CCTV images of Scott. The images showed Scott hours before he vanished, drinking in North Shields and going to a party.
He was last seen at the Customs House on Borough Road with others on October 10th. Scott was white, 5ft 11ins, and medium build. He had blue eyes and short dark brown hair with crooked and chipped teeth.
He wore black Nike trainers, jeans, and a beige jumper. Scott had toe and eyebrow scars, along with a skull tattoo with “Scotland” and “R.F.C” tattooed on his wrist.
Police arrested seven people concerning Scott’s disappearance, but no one was ever charged. In 2008, police reviewed the case and divers searched the Tyne in April after a witness saw a man like Scott by the river on October 11, 2002.
They found no body. Police told the family he likely went into the river. His family wants confirmation of what happened, as his mother said Scott had future plans before he vanished.
Twenty years after his disappearance, his mother spoke, stating her family is broken and still lacks closure. She didn’t believe the police’s explanation and they refused a death certificate.
She thinks Scott is dead but does not accept the police’s explanation, leaving their lives in limbo. His last letter was cheerful and spoke of future plans.
Last summer brought a twist when police arrested a 49-year-old man based on new information. He was released on bail but remained suspected of murder.
Police continue to investigate and ask Coronation Street residents from 2002 to come forward. They may hold key information they don’t realize they have.
The detective leading the investigation stated his thoughts are with Scott’s family, who deserve answers. Police are focusing on the Coronation Street area and a house Scott visited.
Police are grateful for the cooperation and ask anyone with information to contact them online or by phone, using the reference number NP-20240703-0398.