Latest news with #Deante
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Mum of missing boy thanks Mirror for helping find 17-year-old son
Deante James, 17, who went missing on the evening of March 31 from Enfield, North London, has been found alive and it's all thanks to our Missed campaign we're working on with the Missing People charity The mother of a missing teenager who has been found alive has thanked The Mirror after we highlighted his story as part of our Missed campaign. Deante James, 17, went missing on the evening of March 31 from the family home in Enfield, north London, while suffering with psychosis, after unknowingly smoking a joint laced with Spice - a lab-made drug designed to mimic the effects of cannabis.. His mum, Vandana Bhogowoth, who found Deante safe, tells The Mirror: "I'm so happy and relieved, thank God we've found him. When I got the call to say he'd been found I was over the moon - I couldn't stop crying.' 'Thanks so much for everything you've done - it pushed the police and this time his name was entered onto the system correctly. It's great news and he's now getting the help he needs." Deante's life changed a few weeks before he vanished, after he shared a joint with friends, not knowing it was laced with Spice - a drug known to cause side effects ranging from difficulty breathing to psychotic episodes in some users. He developed psychosis and the night he went missing, he ran away without his phone or wallet. Lovingly referring to Deante as 'my boo,' Vandana shared her story with The Mirror's Missed campaign last month, telling us how he he was picked up by British Transport Police three days after going missing for not being able to pay his fare but let go because of an inputting error and fell through the cracks. But, instead of bringing him home and ending Vandana's agony, the police let him go. Vandana, 36, explained at the time: 'He's underage, he's vulnerable and at risk. Police had hold of him and let him go - we could have had him home by now.' It was only after Vandana contacted her MP that Deante's case was changed from medium to high risk - despite being 17 and vulnerable. And it's not just Deante - many missing people are slipping through the cracks, because there's no clear government plan to protect or support them. Now Vandana is determined that other families should not be put through the same agony as she was - meeting with Jess Phillips MP, the parliamentary under-secretary for The Home Office, while Deante was missing to share her experience. And she is backing our Missed campaign, which is calling for a co-ordinated response by services like the police and hospitals in dealing with missing people. Deante's story illustrates the importance of signing our petition calling for a proper government strategy, led by the Home Office, Education, and Health departments, so that missing people and their loved ones get the help they deserve. So far 13, 477 people have signed, but we need 100,000 for it to be debated in Parliament. DEMAND ACTION FOR MISSING PEOPLE Too many missing people are falling through the cracks - harmed while away, and ignored when they return. We need a proper government strategy led by the Home Office, Education, and Health departments to stop this crisis. Right now, there's no real support. People go missing again and again - yet no one's asking why. We're calling for: A new national strategy for missing children and adults Proper support for missing people when they return Investment to stop people going missing in the first place At 10,000 signatures, the government has to respond. At 100,000, it will be debated in Parliament. That's our goal - real action. Susannah Drury, Director of Policy and Development at Missing People, which backs our campaign, says: 'We are incredibly relieved that Deante James has been found safe, after more than a month of being missing and at high risk of harm. "Throughout his time missing, our team has been supporting his mum and simply being there during the most frightening moments of her life. While we share in her relief, we are also deeply concerned about how someone at such high risk could disappear without an urgent response being triggered. 'This case highlights urgent gaps in the system, and it's exactly why our current petition is more important than ever. We need lasting change — not just to prevent young people from falling through the cracks, but to ensure that families like his have the support they need at every stage, both in crisis and beyond. Right now, Deante's family need space and time to begin to process what they've been through, and we will continue to stand beside them as they navigate the days and weeks ahead.' FAMILIES OF THE MISSING Missing people: Facts and Myths Every year, 170,000 people vanish in the UK – that's one person every 90 seconds. Fortunately, most return home within a few days, often without the need for a public appeal. For adults over 18, going missing isn't illegal, but the police will want to ensure their safety. If there are concerns for their welfare, a public appeal might be launched. Importantly, you don't need to wait 24 hours to report someone missing. If their absence is unusual, contact the police immediately. Any child who goes missing will be looked for by police though they are not often given public facing appeals. How the Missing People charity Supports Families Missing People works closely with the police to amplify missing appeals and provide vital support to families. They offer practical help in searches and emotional support to those affected. If you need assistance or want to see your loved one's appeal on the Missed map, call their Helpline on 116 000. It's free, confidential and non-judgemental. They are also there to listen if you are thinking of disappearing or have already left. The Role of Public Appeals Not all missing cases are made public. In situations involving domestic abuse or severe mental health issues, publicity might do more harm than good. That is one reason why you will only see a fraction of missing cases on the Missed map. When sharing appeals, it's crucial to use the official channels from the Missing People website or via the share button on the Missed map. This ensures that once the person is found, all traces of the appeal are removed, respecting their privacy. The Mirror is committed to removing digital footprints of shared appeals, ensuring the missing person's right to be forgotten is upheld. By sharing official appeals, you help protect the privacy and dignity of those who have been found.
Daily Record
11-05-2025
- Daily Record
'My teen son is missing after being spiked - I'm shocked at huge police mistake'
Deante Darell James vanished six weeks ago after his mum noticed a change in him. Heartbroken Vandana Bhogowoth has spent every day of the last six weeks frantically searching for her beloved son who she refers to as 'my boo'. Not long before he went missing, Deante Darell James would have been described as your average Gen Z 17-year-old. The lad loved going to the gym, working out and turning his hand at any sport going. However, in the weeks leading up to his disappearance, something was desperately wrong. And on the evening of March 31, he left the family home in Enfield, North London - without his phone or wallet - and never came back, reports the Mirror. Yet the tragedy does not end there: Just three days later Deante was arrested by cops at London Earl's Court tube station accused of providing false details when stopped for not paying his fare. But instead of officers bringing him home and ending Vandana's agony, they let him go - because they didn't realise the teen was a missing person. It is a problem that happens way too often as information falls through the cracks between different agencies. 'Why didn't it flag up to them that he was a missing person? ' Vandana, 36, said. 'He's underage, he's vulnerable and at risk. Police had hold of him and let him go - we could have had him home by now.' Deante's missing person's case was being handled by The Met Police, but it was British Transport Police who stopped the teenager at Earl's Court. The Met investigation didn't flag up on the system when BTP officers searched his real name on their database due to an inputting blunder. The Met has admitted his name had been entered into their system the wrong way round. The near miss only adds to the mum's agony. But it's not just Deante: many missing people are slipping through the cracks because there's no clear government plan to protect or support them. But now thanks to the Mirror's Missed campaign, Vandana was able to discuss these concerns with Jess Phillips MP, the parliamentary under-secretary for The Home Office earlier this week. She's determined other families should not be put through the same agony as she was - and has been praised by charity Missing People. Susannah Drury, Director of Policy and Development at the charity, says: 'We're incredibly grateful to Deante's mum, who despite the anguish she's facing, is standing with our charity to call for missing to be a high priority for the police and government. Her commitment to meeting with Jess Phillips MP is a powerful act of courage and advocacy. 'Families in crisis deserve better, and missing must be recognised as a moment that demands an immediate, compassionate response.' It was only after Vandana got in touch with her own MP that Deante's case was changed from medium to high risk. 'Why wasn't he classed as high risk to begin with?,' she adds 'When a loved one goes missing it's like being in limbo, it's unbearable. I want him to know that we all love and miss him so much.' Deante's life changed a few weeks before he vanished. Vandana said he never touched drugs normally, but had shared a joint with friends. He did not realise it was laced with Spice - a man-made cannabis linked to serious health issues ranging from difficulty breathing to psychotic episodes. When he came home Vandana knew something wasn't quite right. 'His eyes were glazed and he was just staring into space,' she recalls. 'He didn't know where he was and had extreme paranoia. For days after there was a look of doom in his eyes and he couldn't stop crying.' Over the next few weeks Deante's mental health continued to deteriorate. He was hearing voices and hallucinating. Overnight he'd gone from a hard-working, charming boy full of ambition to someone consumed by negative thoughts. Vandana, a teacher at the local college says: 'It was so upsetting to see him like that. He's not a regular smoker. He's really into the gym and wants to be a personal trainer or PE teacher. But he changed overnight. 'We were so worried about his state of mind that I refused to leave him on his own and kept taking him back to see the medical professionals. It was a doctor who told us he had all the signs of drug-induced psychosis from accidentally taking Spice. They said his neurons had disconnected and he'd broken a part of his brain because the Spice was too powerful.' Leaving the hospital on March 31, his felt more hopeful than she had done in a long time. Doctors said that while he had damaged a part of his brain, with help and medication there was no reason why he wouldn't make a full recovery. But that evening back at home in Enfield, Deante slipped back into psychosis, ripping up pictures and smashing his mum's phone before bolting out the back door. 'We haven't seen him since,' Vandana says. 'We're so worried about him. He would never do something like this before the psychosis - he loved his home comforts too much and what teenager leaves home without their phone or any money? 'I spend all day every day looking for him, sending emails and following up on leads. I answer my phone within the first few rings in case it's him. I 100% believe he's still alive but just confused because of the psychosis.' A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said while cops believe Deante is not carrying a mobile phone, enquiries have been carried out to obtain historic mobile phone data, in order to identify any associates that could know his whereabouts. Officers have also conducted local and financial enquiries, spoken to Deante's family and friends, and local partners - including charities, and health and education services - in order to better understand his possible movements. They've also trawled CCTV camera footage. But Mum Vandana fears that police haven't taken her son's disappearance seriously enough because he is from a Caribbean and Mauritian background. Every year 170,000 people go missing in the UK - but black people are disproportionately represented, making up 14% of missing persons despite representing only 3% of the population. 'The police only came and took his phone and laptop three weeks after he went missing,' she says. 'They've not taken it seriously. I'm desperately following every lead and doing their job for them.' A spokesperson for The Met last night strongly refuted allegations that they are not taking the teen's case seriously enough because of his race. They also stressed they had apologised for his name being entered into the system the wrong way round. A spokesperson added: 'Officers are working around the clock to find Deante and have viewed hours of CCTV footage and will review more as we follow every possible line of enquiry. We appreciate Deante's family's concerns around this case and officers have been keeping them updated throughout the time he's been missing.' Deante's older sister Jaidaima, 19, has meanwhile created a TikTok video of her and her brother which has been viewed more than 73,000 times. But despite people contacting the family with potential sightings, the only definite sighting is when police arrested him at Earl's Court. 'I've been to Earl's Court and spoken to every person I can think of,' his mum says. 'We give the police updates every single day.' Meanwhile, Deante's mum has a stark warning for other teens who may be considering experimenting with drugs. 'Teenagers need to be so careful,' she says. 'I've spoken to a lot of other young people and they've also unknowingly bought spliffs or vapes laced with Spice. 'It's so damaging - it only took my son one time to damage his brain. It's changed his life and he's now gone missing because of it. 'It's hard to watch someone change so much in the click of a finger, I wish I could swap places with him. Psychosis robs you of the real person. It's almost like they are possessed - like they're still there but it's not them. 'If I could say anything to Deante now it would be 'Everyone loves you and misses you. You're my whole world. Please come home boo'.'
Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
'My missing son could've been brought home - but police made huge mistake'
Deante James, 17, went missing on the evening of March 31 from Enfield, North London. More than one month on mum Vandana says every day is a living hell not knowing if he's safe Heartbroken Vandana Bhogowoth has spent every day of the last six weeks frantically searching for her missing son she lovingly refers to as 'my boo'. Not long before he vanished, Deante Darell James would have been described as your average Gen Z 17-year-old. He loved going to the gym, working out and turning his hand at any sport going. But in the weeks leading up to his disappearance, something was desperately wrong. And on the evening of March 31, he left the family home in Enfield, North London - without his phone or wallet - and never came back. Yet the tragedy does not end there: Just three days later Deante was arrested by police at London Earl's Court tube station accused of providing false details when stopped for not paying his fare. But instead of police bringing him home and ending Vandana's agony, they let him go - because they didn't realise he was a missing person. It is a problem that happens all too often as information falls through the cracks between different agencies. 'Why didn't it flag up to them that he was a missing person?' Vandana, 36, told The Mirror. 'He's underage, he's vulnerable and at risk. Police had hold of him and let him go - we could have had him home by now.' Deante's missing person's case was being handled by The Met Police, but it was British Transport Police who stopped him at Earl's Court. The Met investigation didn't flag up on the system when British Transport Police officers searched his real name on their database due to an inputting blunder. The Met admitted his name had been entered into the system the wrong way round. The near miss only adds to the family's pain. But it's not just Deante: many missing people are slipping through the cracks because there's no clear government plan to protect or support them. But now thanks to the Mirror's Missed campaign, Vandana was able to discuss these concerns with Jess Phillips MP, the parliamentary under-secretary for The Home Office earlier this week. She's determined other families should not be put through the same agony as she was - and has been praised by charity Missing People. Susannah Drury, Director of Policy and Development at the charity, says: 'We're incredibly grateful to Deante's mum, who despite the anguish she's facing, is standing with our charity to call for missing to be a high priority for the police and government. Her commitment to meeting with Jess Phillips MP is a powerful act of courage and advocacy. 'Families in crisis deserve better, and missing must be recognised as a moment that demands an immediate, compassionate response.' It was only after Vandana got in touch with her own MP that Deante's case was changed from medium to high risk. 'Why wasn't he classed as high risk to begin with?,' she adds 'When a loved one goes missing it's like being in limbo, it's unbearable. I want him to know that we all love and miss him so much.' Deante's life changed a few weeks before he vanished. Vandana said he never touched drugs normally, but had shared a joint with friends. He did not realise it was laced with Spice - a man-made cannabis linked to serious health issues ranging from difficulty breathing to psychotic episodes. When he came home Vandana knew something wasn't quite right. 'His eyes were glazed and he was just staring into space,' she recalls. 'He didn't know where he was and had extreme paranoia. For days after there was a look of doom in his eyes and he couldn't stop crying.' Over the next few weeks Deante's mental health continued to deteriorate. He was hearing voices and hallucinating. Overnight he'd gone from a hard-working, charming boy full of ambition to someone consumed by negative thoughts. Vandana, a teacher at the local college says: 'It was so upsetting to see him like that. He's not a regular smoker. He's really into the gym and wants to be a personal trainer or PE teacher. But he changed overnight. 'We were so worried about his state of mind that I refused to leave him on his own and kept taking him back to see the medical professionals. It was a doctor who told us he had all the signs of drug-induced psychosis from accidentally taking Spice. They said his neurons had disconnected and he'd broken a part of his brain because the Spice was too powerful.' Leaving the hospital on March 31, Vandana felt more hopeful than she had done in a long time. Doctors said that while he had damaged a part of his brain, with help and medication there was no reason why he wouldn't make a full recovery. SIGN OUR PETITION Missing people are falling through the gaps, experiencing serious harm while they are away, with little or no support to help address the reasons why they left. They need help, so they don't go missing again. A dedicated strategy led by the Home Office, Department for Education, and Department for Health and Social Care would provide the proper attention and resources. Without this, thousands will continue to go missing without support. and, when they return, there will be no meaningful opportunity to speak to anyone about why they left, or what happened while they were away. This leaves vulnerable people, who are often in crisis, with no support. Life is never hopeless. Everyone should know that someone cares, and that help is available from organisations such as the charity Missing People. The Mirror is calling for: • The publication of a new missing children and adults strategy to ensure police, health and social care play their part • Investment in prevention for those at most risk of going missing • Support to be offered to every missing child and adult on their return But that evening back at home in Enfield, Deante slipped back into psychosis, ripping up pictures and smashing his mum's phone before bolting out the back door. 'We haven't seen him since,' Vandana says. 'We're so worried about him. He would never do something like this before the psychosis - he loved his home comforts too much and what teenager leaves home without their phone or any money? 'I spend all day every day looking for him, sending emails and following up on leads. I answer my phone within the first few rings in case it's him. I 100% believe he's still alive but just confused because of the psychosis.' A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said while officers believe Deante is not carrying a mobile phone, enquiries have been carried out to obtain historic mobile phone data, in order to identify any associates that could know his whereabouts. Officers have also conducted local and financial enquiries, spoken to Deante's family and friends, and local partners - including charities, and health and education services - in order to better understand his possible movements. They've also trawled CCTV camera footage. But Mum Vandana fears that police haven't taken her son's disappearance seriously enough because he is from a Caribbean and Mauritian background. Every year 170,000 people go missing in the UK - but black people are disproportionately represented, making up 14% of missing persons despite representing only 3% of the population. 'The police only came and took his phone and laptop three weeks after he went missing,' she says. 'They've not taken it seriously. I'm desperately following every lead and doing their job for them.' A spokesperson for The Met last night strongly refuted allegations that they are not taking the case seriously enough because of his race. They also stressed they had apologised for his name being entered into the system the wrong way round. A spokesperson added: 'Officers are working around the clock to find Deante and have viewed hours of CCTV footage and will review more as we follow every possible line of enquiry. We appreciate Deante's family's concerns around this case and officers have been keeping them updated throughout the time he's been missing.' Deante's older sister Jaidaima, 19, has meanwhile created a TikTok video of her and her brother which has been viewed more than 73,000 times. But despite people contacting the family with potential sightings, the only definite sighting is when police arrested him at Earl's Court. 'I've been to Earl's Court and spoken to every person I can think of,' his mum says. 'We give the police updates every single day.' Meanwhile, Deante's mum has a stark warning for other teenagers who may be considering experimenting with drugs. 'Teenagers need to be so careful,' she says. 'I've spoken to a lot of other young people and they've also unknowingly bought spliffs or vapes laced with Spice. 'It's so damaging - it only took my son one time to damage his brain. It's changed his life and he's now gone missing because of it. 'It's hard to watch someone change so much in the click of a finger, I wish I could swap places with him. Psychosis robs you of the real person. It's almost like they are possessed - like they're still there but it's not them. 'If I could say anything to Deante now it would be 'Everyone loves you and misses you. You're my whole world. Please come home boo'.' • The Mirror is using its platform to launch Missed – a campaign to shine a light on underrepresented public-facing missing persons in the UK via a live interactive map, in collaboration with Missing People Charity. Because every missing person, no matter their background or circumstances, is someone's loved one. And they are always Missed.
