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Nicola Bulley – latest: Missing dog walker suffered ‘brain fog’ before disappearance as father hopes for breakthrough

BySpotted UK

Feb 17, 2023
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Ex-detective says police have ‘destroyed’ Nicola Bulley’s reputation

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The family of Nicola Bulley said the missing dog walker was suffering from “brain fog” before she disappeared.

In a statement released by the devastated family on Thursday, they said the mum-of-two was struggling with peri menopause which caused certain side effects.

They said: “Due to the peri menopause Nikki suffered with significant side effects such as brain fog, restless sleep and was taking HRT to help but this was giving her intense headaches which caused Nikki to stop taking the HRT thinking that may have helped her but only ended up causing this crisis.”

Desperate to find their daughter, Ms Bulley’s father today said they “need a breakthrough”.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: ““Every day is a struggle. [We’re] no further on from three weeks ago. [We] just need a breakthrough to give us some hope.”

Meanwhile, Lancashire Police referred themselves to a watchdog over the contact the force had with missing mother seventeen days before she disappeared.

Anyone with information or footage is asked to submit information through the Major Incident Public Portal (MiPP) at Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)

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Missing dog walker suffered ‘brain fog’ before disappearance, family say

The family of Nicola Bulley said the missing dog walker was suffering from “brain fog” before she disappeared.

In a statement released by the devastated family on Thursday, they said the mum-of-two was struggling with peri menopause which caused certain side effects.

They said: “Due to the peri menopause Nikki suffered with significant side effects such as brain fog, restless sleep and was taking HRT to help but this was giving her intense headaches which caused Nikki to stop taking the HRT thinking that may have helped her but only ended up causing this crisis.”

‘This needs to stop’: Full statement as Nicola Bulley’s family break silence

‘Nikki, we hope you are reading this and know that we love you so much,’ family says

Maryam Zakir-Hussain17 February 2023 14:301676645714

Watch: Man recalls the moment he found Nicola Bulley’s phone

The man who found Nicola Bulley’s abandoned phone lying on a bench near River Wyre has spoken about the moment he saw it.

✕Man recalls the moment he found Nicola Bulley's phoneMaryam Zakir-Hussain17 February 2023 14:551676642431

Nicola Bulley dive expert would have changed strategy if he knew of ‘vulnerabilities’

The forensic expert who assisted Lancashire Police in searching the River Wyre for Nicola Bulley has suggested he would have changed his search strategy if he had known important information about her state of mind.

On Wednesday, the police revealed they were treating Ms Bulley as a “high risk” missing person due to “specific vulnerabilities”.

“I work on these cases all the time with the police, and the first thing to say is if the lady or man is high risk, so we change our search strategy,” Peter Faulding explained.

Nicola Bulley dive expert would have changed strategy if he knew of ‘vulnerabilities’

The forensic expert who assisted Lancashire Police in searching the River Wyre for Nicola Bulley has suggested he would have changed his search strategy if he had known important information about her state of mind. On Wednesday, the police revealed they were treating Ms Bulley as a “high risk” missing person due to “specific vulnerabilities”. “I work on these cases all the time with the police, and the first thing to say is if the lady or man is high risk, so we change our search strategy,” Peter Faulding explained. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain17 February 2023 14:001676640631

Nicola Bulley’s family plea for end to speculation over her private life

The family of Nicola Bulley have called for an end to the “speculation and rumours” about her private life.

Their plea came after Lancashire Police was criticised for disclosing that the mother-of-two suffered “some significant issues with alcohol” in the past, which had resurfaced over recent months.

Senior officers said on Wednesday that Ms Bulley was “vulnerable” and classed by police as a “high-risk” missing person immediately after her partner Paul Ansell reported her disappearance.

Nicola Bulley’s family say personal issues revealed to stop people selling stories

Ms Bulley’s parents have spoken out after police released personal details about her struggles

Maryam Zakir-Hussain17 February 2023 13:301676639027

The Nicola Bulley case is one of the biggest disasters in British policing

Like it or not, policing is all about control. The police control demonstrations, football fans, crime scenes, witnesses, suspects, even each other (supposedly), Peter Bleksley writes.

And, as we now know, some of their very worst former officers brutally control women who become victims of their vile criminality.

They also control information – billions of pieces of information – and whenever there is a notable, newsworthy case that garners enormous public interest, they control what information is released to us: the great, unworthy, unwashed British public.

The information that is deemed suitable for us is often decided by senior officers, in consultation with their press offices.

Opinion: The Nicola Bulley case is one of the biggest disasters in British policing

If the public cannot trust how the police handle the release of information, why on earth should they trust their investigations?

Maryam Zakir-Hussain17 February 2023 13:031676637306

Map shows key areas in Nicola Bulley search as police share lane where she could have left field

There is a 10-minute window in which detectives cannot account for Ms Bulley’s movements – a blind spot believed by some to hold the key to what became of the missing woman.

At approximately 9.10am, a witness saw her on the upper field walking her dog. Police know that at 9.20am, her phone was on the bench it was later discovered on. A full timeline of her disappearance can be seen here.

The Independent has mapped out the rough radius where the 45-year-old could have walked and driven to in those 10 minutes:

Map shows key areas in Nicola Bulley search as police share possible exit from field

Police still believe mother-of-two went into river during 10-minute window not accounted for

Maryam Zakir-Hussain17 February 2023 12:351676634693

Nicola Bulley: 5 questions police must answer about missing mother’s disappearance

Police investigating the Nicola Bulley case appear no closer to finding her nearly three weeks after the mother-of-two disappeared while walking her dog near the river in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.

On Wednesday Lancashire Constabulary announced that Ms Bulley, 45, had been facing “significant issues with alcohol” brought on by “ongoing struggles with the menopause”, prompting claims in some quarters of “victim blaming”.

Tory MP Alicia Kearns is among those denouncing the force’s decision to share Ms Bulley’s struggles when it is not clear how doing so will help the ongoing search.

In a news conference, the force also set out a detailed rundown of the work it had done so far in trying to find Ms Bulley and criticised armchair detectives commenting on the case, saying they were a “significant” distraction.

Matt Mathers reports:

5 questions police must answer about Nicola Bulley’s disappearance

Police are appparently no closer to finding mother-of-two nearly three weeks after she vanished while walking her dog

Maryam Zakir-Hussain17 February 2023 11:511676632080

Information commissioner will ask Lancashire Police about decision to reveal Nicola Bulley’s alcohol struggles

The Information Commissioner will be asking Lancashire Police about the decision to disclose missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley’s struggles with alcohol and HRT, he said in a statement.

Information Commissioner John Edwards said: “Data protection law exists to ensure people’s personal information is used properly and fairly. This includes ensuring personal details are not disclosed inappropriately.

“Police can disclose information to protect the public and investigate crime, but they would need to be able to demonstrate such disclosure was necessary.

“We recognise that at this stage of an intensive, live investigation, the force must focus all their energies on the inquiry. But given the high-profile nature of this case, we will be asking Lancashire Police to set out how they reached the decision to disclose this information in due course.”

Maryam Zakir-Hussain17 February 2023 11:081676630327

Residents in Nicola Bulley’s village hire security firm to stop snooping vigilantes

Neighbours of Nicola Bulley have had to beef up their security because amateur detectives are snooping into people’s homes.

Lancashire Police has repeatedly asked people outside of the village of Saint Michael’s on Wyre not to visit to conduct their own searches after the 45-year-old mother disappeared on January 27.

But Wyre Council leader Michael Vincent said villagers, particularly older residents, have been left “terrified” as vigilantes complete DIY probes. He said that they had even resorted to employing private security firms in a bid to protect their privacy.

“People have reported being sat in their living rooms in an afternoon watching television and people coming up to the windows, peering in, trying the doors, it’s been terrifying for them,” he said on Friday.

William Mata reports:

Residents in Nicola Bulley’s village hire security firm to stop snooping vigilantes

Saint Michael’s on Wyre villagers have been ‘terrified’ by amauter detectives looking through windows in search for missing mum

Maryam Zakir-Hussain17 February 2023 10:381676628811

Nicola Bulley police ‘made sexist error’ on release of personal struggles

The former victims’ commissioner has condemned police investigating the disappearance of Nicola Bulley for their “sexist” revelations about her personal health problems.

Lancashire Constabulary revealed on Wednesday that the 45-year-old mother of two had issues with alcohol brought on by her struggles with menopause.

The move sparked a backlash from the public, MPs and women’s rights campaigners accusing police of victim blaming and prompted home secretary Suella Braverman to demand an explanation from the force.

Dame Vera Baird said she was worried the move would put people off from making complaints in future as they might fear what information about them would be made public.

William Mata reports:

Nicola Bulley police ‘made sexist error’ on release of personal struggles

Police said Nicola Bulley was suffering with menopause and alcohol related stressors

Maryam Zakir-Hussain17 February 2023 10:13

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