boxing day 2012: Fears for financial manager missing since Christmas Eve after he was sacked from his job

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Fears for financial manager missing since Christmas Eve after he was sacked from his job

PUBLISHED: 09:43 EST, 27 December 2012 | UPDATED: 09:51 EST, 27 December 2012

Colin Morton (pictured) went missing on Christmas Eve, days after losing his job

Fears are growing for the welfare of a man who went missing on Christmas Eve, days after he was sacked from his job.

Colin Morton, 52, failed to return to his home in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, after a doctor's appointment on Monday morning.

His partner of 34 years Liz Callighan, has told how Mr Morton was left devastated after losing the career he loved at a building society just five days before his disappearance.

Police are continuing to search for Mr Morton as his partner fears he may have harmed himself.

Miss Callighan, 52, of Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, said: 'Up until five weeks ago Colin was a very chatty, sociable, friendly person. He would talk to anybody.

'But when he was dismissed I saw a huge change in him. He was absolutely devastated. His career was a huge part of his life.

'I just love him and whatever happened there was always a way we could have worked it out.'

Mr Morton worked for the Newcastle Building Society for more than 10 years and rose through the ranks to the position of Senior Financial Manager.

But on November 19 he was suspended from work when it was discovered he had signed a form relating to some work a colleague had undertaken, not himself.

Mr Morton had hoped his bosses would understand that the mistake was innocent. However, when he returned to work for a disciplinary hearing last Wednesday he was fired.

His partner said Mr Morton was devastated and also feared people would think his dismissal had something to do with the type of dishonesty and financial irregularity that has plagued the banking industry over recent years.

Miss Callighan said: 'He made a simple mistake. It was a split second decision. I think his over-riding feeling was shame.'

After Mr Morton was dismissed, Miss Callighan did her best to reassure her partner, but she became more and more worried about his state of mind as he plunged into depression, and on Sunday she begged him to see a doctor.

The last known footage of Mr Mortno shows him on a footbridge at Whitley Bay Metro Station

'I was just constantly trying to calm him down and at times he was fine. But then he would get himself all worked up again,' said Miss Callighan. 'He just felt like he had lost everything he had worked for.

'I was very concerned. He would say things like; 'I can't go on'.

'Things came to a head late on Sunday. I knew he needed professional help and I tried to take him to the hospital but he wouldn't go. I wish I had just called an ambulance now.'

Mr Morton agreed to see his GP and on Monday morning and he left for his appointment at 9am, the last time Miss Callighan saw him.

CCTV at Whitley Bay Metro Station captured images of Mr Morton walking across the footbridge as he headed into the town centre.

He left the surgery, on Whitley Road, at just before 9.15am, and is known to have then gone to a bank in the town centre.

Mr Morton's partner, Liz Callighan, said she was worried about his welfare

Mr Morton called Miss Callighan soon after and told her he was on the cliffs and wanted to end his life.

Miss Callighan made an emotional plea for him to get in touch.

She said: 'I just want to tell you that I love you and I need to know that you are safe. Please can you get in touch with someone to let me know you are safe and well?'

Colin is described as being around 5ft 10ins tall, with grey balding hair. When he left his home he was wearing a grey hooded top, grey V-necked T-shirt, navy blue track suit bottoms and black slip on, trainer-type shoes.

Supt Gillian Mitchell, of Northumbria Police, said: 'We are increasingly concerned about Colin's welfare and we are appealing for the public to help us locate him.

'If anyone thinks they may have seen Colin we would urge them to get in touch.'