Fresh police activity at Dudley property in Patricia Lashley murder investigation

Police have returned to a property on Hall Street, Dudley, today as the search for missing woman Patricia Lashley continues.

Officers and forensic teams have been carrying out an extensive search at the building, close to the junction with King Street and opposite Cousins furniture store.

Fire crews also attended the scene on Thursday, August 20, with West Midlands Fire Service confirming they were called to Hall Street shortly after 2.20pm.

A fire engine from Wednesbury and a 4x4 brigade response vehicle from Brierley Hill attended, with firefighters providing structural advice to police colleagues.

A spokesman for the fire service said: “We were only there for a short time.”

Firefighters left the scene at around 4.30pm.

The latest activity comes as detectives continue their investigation into the disappearance of Patricia, who was last seen near her Hall Street home in September 1998.

Patricia, known locally as Pat or Jade, was 33 and a mother-of-seven when she disappeared. She had moved to Dudley in the mid-1990s and was known to frequent the No Limits club and other pubs in the town.

Read more: Police and forensics at Dudley property in connection with missing woman

She was also known by the names Jade, Vanessa and Tricia, and sometimes used the surname Bradford.

West Midlands Police previously confirmed that the search at the Hall Street property was connected to the investigation into Patricia's disappearance.

The renewed search follows the arrest and charging of 66-year-old Trevor Dunkley, of Himley Road, with Patricia's murder last month.

Dunkley was charged on July 9 and remanded in custody to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court. Police have said they believe Patricia and Dunkley knew one another.

Despite the scale of the operation, detectives have not publicly said exactly what they are looking for at the Hall Street property.

Police have appealed for anyone who knew Patricia or Dunkley to come forward, including people who may have spoken to officers when Patricia was first reported missing almost 30 years ago.

Det Insp Michelle Cordell said officers wanted to build a clearer picture of Patricia's life at the time she disappeared and urged anyone with information, however insignificant it may seem, to contact police.

Anyone with information about Patricia or her disappearance is asked to contact police on 101, quoting log 3984 of July 7.