Police concerned after girl, 8, and woman go missing

18 September 2025

News image — Sally-Jean has been missing with eight-year-old Ava for more than three weeks

Thames Valley Police Sally-Jean stares blankly at the camera against a plain grey background. She has long, wispy, brown hair and green eyes. — Sally-Jean has been missing with eight-year-old Ava for more than three weeks

Police have said they are "extremely concerned" for the welfare of a woman and an eight-year-old girl who have been missing for more than three weeks.

The woman, named by Thames Valley Police as 37-year-old Sally-Jean, was last seen with Ava in Tilehurst, near Reading, on 25 August.

However, they were only reported as missing on Monday, detectives said.

The girl is described as black with an Afro hairstyle. Sally-Jean is white, and about 5ft 4in (1.63m) tall, with long brown hair, green eyes and tattoos including a large one on her lower right arm.

Insp Iain Watkinson said: "We are extremely concerned for the welfare of Sally-Jean and Ava and we have been working hard to find them since they were reported missing on Monday.

"We are now appealing for the public's help. Anyone with information on their whereabouts should call 101 or make a report on our website."

Sally-Jean has links to Reading, Caversham and Tilehurst, police said.

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