Family of missing teen on doorbell footage complain as 'sighting' delays probe

DISTRAUGHT LOVED ONES OF COLE COOPER CLAIM POLICE SCOTLAND'S HANDLING OF A DUBIOUS 'SIGHTING' HAS CAUSED DELAYS TO THEIR FRANTIC SEARCH TO FIND HIM. 15:24, 21 May 2025 The

desperate family of a missing teen have demanded proof of the latest "sighting" after blasting cops over delays in their probe. Distraught loved ones of Cole Cooper launched a

scathing complaint to Police Scotland after claiming their handling of a dubious "sighting" has caused delays in the frantic search to find him. We previously told how the

19-year-old's family were doubtful of Cole's last known sighting at Cumbernauld Road in Longcroft on Wednesday May 7. Cole, from Banknock, was reportedly last spotted by an unknown

"associate", with officers using the information as part of a social media appeal a week later on Thursday May 15. But the last CCTV sighting of Cole was on Sunday May 4 at around

6am when worrying ring doorbell footage emerged of him running elsewhere in Longcroft. The family have since told the Record they were incensed by the appeal having previously doubted the

eyewitness account from a man who claimed he bumped into Cole. Now they are pleading cops to find CCTV to prove Cole was there - but admit they are "spiralling down a dark route".

Cole's Aunt Aimee Tennie, 31, told the Record on Wednesday: "This supposed last sighting has delayed everything by a week. It made police go in a completely different direction and

take things less seriously. "We could have been a lot further forward by now, we feel it has delayed the whole investigation by a week. "We're now three weeks in and we are

no further forward. There is no proof that Cole was there. We've asked for CCTV, dashcam, ring doorbell. There is nothing. "Not only that, but there is no evidence that Cole was

spotted alive and well on the Monday or Tuesday. He has just suddenly turned up on Wednesday, May 7 before disappearing again without a trace." The family filed a complaint with Police

Scotland and say officers have been too slow to follow up leads, asking to try and obtain CCTV footage that could be the key to proving if Cole appeared on Wednesday May 7 or not. However,

they claim it took police a further week to actively start searching for the camera footage. Aimee added: "CCTV could be key to proving the theory Cole was there or not. It took

officers a week to ask for the appropriate footage. "The police have just taken someone's word for it. If we don't get any physical proof we want it dropped and we want all

the focus to be back on Sunday, May 4. "We can't keep jumping to the May 7 sighting. It has thrown us off track. We keep being told conflicting stories. We are becoming exhausted

by it." The sighting on May 7 described Cole as wearing a black puffer jacket. Aimee says since the appeal the family have received pictures of young males with a similar description to

Cole wearing the same distinctive jacket in the area. She said: "Cole does own a black puffer style jacket but so do a lot guys his age. They all dress the same way. "We were

actually sent pictures of guys in the area with people thinking it could be Cole. "Is it possible that the guy who claims he saw him, just thought he did? I've lost count the

amount of times I have been convinced I've seen Cole. "We don't know specifics because we haven't been able to see any statements. "We understand police need to hold

information but every shred of detail right now is key for us." JOIN THE DAILY RECORD WHATSAPP COMMUNITY! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp

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Privacy Notice. Meanwhile search crews continue to look for Cole with a canoe team searching the Forth and Clyde canal on Wednesday night. Aimee added: "I've been out every day

looking for him. "I've been trawling through mud, swamps and searching reservoirs. Article continues below "It has just been torture, every thought has gone through our

heads." A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We have received a complaint which is being assessed by Police Scotland's Professional Standards Department."