Wembley Grandad’s plea to help find missing three-year-old grandaughter

An appeal has been made to find Jessica Richards, left, and her daughter Elliana Shand Picture: Sean Doyle/PA Wire

Elliana Shand, also known as Elliana Richards, went missing with her mum Jessica Richards in the summer, in breach of a court order.

Now the little girl’s paternal grandad, Sean Doyle, from Wembley, has begged for help in finding them.

“Please think if you have seen them,” the 51-year-old said. “They both need to be found as a matter of urgency.

“We know Jessica loves Elliana to bits.

“But Jessica is schizophrenic and Elliana is only three.

“Have you seen them? Have you seen them in a play area, in a McDonald’s, in a shop?

“They must be somewhere. Someone must have seen them. They both need help.

“Please, please help us find them. And if you see them please call the police straight away.

“We are so worried.”

Mr Doyle, an estate agent and Hillsborough campaigner who is originally from Liverpool ey, was given permission by Mr Justice Hayden to make the appeal.

The judge himself made an appeal to find the pair, who live in Barking, last month, saying he was “very concerned indeed” for Elliana’s safety.

Staff at Barking and Dagenham Council had raised concerns about Elliana’s welfare and in May, had concluded she should no longer live with her mother.

During court proceedings, which were likely to see Elliana taken into care, her maternal grandmother, Sharon Shand, also known as Richards, took Elliana to Jamaica to spend time together on a “farewell final holiday”.

Mrs Shand maintained that she handed the little girl over to her mother when they flew back in September and did not know of their whereabouts.