Boy who sparked 24-hour police search after he vanished on his way home from school is found safe and well in Leeds

  • Schoolboy Joshua Oxley last seen shortly before 4pm yesterday afternoon
  • Later seen on CCTV arriving at train station in Leeds and a shopping centre
  • Police spent 24 hours searching for youngster before finding him in Leeds
  • Officers said he may have gone missing following an 'incident' after school

By RICHARD SPILLETT and EMMA GLANFIELD FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

A 12-year-old boy who sparked a huge police hunt after disappearing on his way home from school following an ‘incident’ has been found 30 miles away.

Concerns were growing for Joshua Oxley after he failed to return home from Winterhill School in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, yesterday afternoon.

Police launched a huge 24-hour search for the schoolboy, which involved the force helicopter being deployed, before confirming he had been found safe and well in Leeds city centre this afternoon.

A police hunt was launched for Joshua Oxley, 12, after he failed to return home from school in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, yesterday. He was spotted on CCTV and later found safe and well in Leeds today (pictured)
Police launched a huge 24-hour search for the schoolboy, which involved the force helicopter being deployed, before confirming he had been found safe and well in Leeds city centre this afternoon

A police hunt was launched for Joshua Oxley, 12, after he failed to return home from school in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, yesterday. He was spotted on CCTV and later found safe and well in Leeds today (pictured)

Police are looking for Rotherham schoolboy Joshua Oxley after he did not return home last night
CCTV showed him leaving Winterhill School in Rotherham  around 3.50pm

Police spent 24 hours looking for Rotherham schoolboy Joshua Oxley after he did not return home last night. CCTV (right) showed him leaving Winterhill School in Rotherham at around 3.50pm before he caught a train

The youngster was last seen at around 7pm on Tuesday night at Chapeltown railway station in Sheffield by a member of the public.

He was earlier spotted at the roundabout near junction 35 of the M1 motorway at around 4.30pm.

South Yorkshire Police officers spent the night searching for the schoolboy, before releasing CCTV footage of him in the Leeds area.

Footage from the central train station in Leeds shows the youngster arriving at the station at 8.17pm last night and walking out of the station.

Further CCTV then shows him at ‘gaming’ shop Red5 in the Core Shopping Centre at 10.45am today.

He could be seen wearing his uniform - consisting of black trousers, a white short-sleeved shirt, school tie, black shoes and black school jumper or grey hoodie - and carrying a red backpack.

South Yorkshire Police and mountain rescue teams spent much of today searching for missing Joshua Oxley

South Yorkshire Police and mountain rescue teams spent much of today searching for missing Joshua Oxley

Police say an 'incident' at school may have sparked Joshua's disappearance. Pictured: The search today

Police say an 'incident' at school may have sparked Joshua's disappearance. Pictured: The search today

Superintendent Paul McCurry, of Rotherham, said Joshua may have gone missing after an 'incident' at school

Superintendent Paul McCurry, of Rotherham, said Joshua may have gone missing after an 'incident' at school

Police believe he boarded the train at Chapeltown in Sheffield before travelling north to Leeds yesterday evening.

Superintendent Paul McCurry, of Rotherham District Police, said Joshua may have gone missing after an 'incident' at his school.

'Joshua's disappearance for this length of time is out of character and we believe this may be as a result of an incident at school yesterday,' he added.

Confirming he had been found this afternoon, South Yorkshire Police said on Twitter: '12-year-old Joshua Oxley has been found safe and well in Leeds by SYP (South Yorkshire Police) officers.

‘A massive thank you to all who shared the appeals.'

The force said he would now be returned to his family home. 

The alarm was raised after the youngster failed to return home from Winterhill School in Rotherham yesterday

The alarm was raised after the youngster failed to return home from Winterhill School in Rotherham yesterday

Joshua Oxley, 12, had been spotted on this road near junction 35 of the M1 at Thorpe Hesley in Rotherham

Joshua Oxley, 12, had been spotted on this road near junction 35 of the M1 at Thorpe Hesley in Rotherham

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