Welsh man Clive Sharp has been charged with the murder of Offaly woman Catherine Gowing, in North Wales.

Gowing (38) has been missing since Friday, 12th Oct. One week later the police have confirmed that they located her purple Renaut Clio car, which had been burnt out. They have now charged Sharpe, from Gwynedd, who was known to Gowing. Sharpe (46) was arrested on Wednesday and held by the police on suspicion of murder.

On Friday the Crown Prosecution Service released a statement which read “We can now confirm that, having carefully carried out a detailed review of the evidence gathered so far by North Wales Police, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to charge Clive Sharpe with the murder of Catherine Gowing and it is in the public interest to do so”.

The police and Prosecution Service also asked that the media refrain from publishing anything that might hamper ongoing enquiries, or a fair trial.

Police Detective Superintendent John Hanson renewed the police’s appeal for information.

He said “I would like to renew my appeal for anyone who was in and around the area of the disused quarry in Pinfold Lane, Alltami at any time last weekend to come forward with any information that may assist.

“Searches will continue into this evening and throughout the weekend.  We will do all that is conceivably possible to find Catherine and return her to her family”.

“That remains our priority” he added.

Earlier this week Gowing’s sister Emma made an appeal to the public to help police in finding her sister.

Emma Gowing spoke at a press conference on Thursday. She asked people in the area to “Look out of your windows, look as you drive or head to work.

"Check your local street, car parks, garages, wasteland or anywhere the car may be left. Please look, please search and please help us find my beautiful sister."

Catherine Gowing was last seen by her colleagues at the vans Veterinary Practice on Clayton Road, on Friday evening. The police have now found footage of Gowing on the CCTV of an Asda supermarket in Queenferry later that night.

She left the supermarket at 8.40pm. Detectives believe that at this point in the evening she was alone. She was carrying a plastic Asda bag and a pizza-type box, reports RTE.

Gowing was wearing blue jeans, a light brown khaki fleece zipped top, and plain black flat shoes. Her hair was tied up.

Gowing moved to New Brighton having qualified as a vet in a university in Budapest.
Her sister Emma and her brother-in-law are in North Wales assisting the police and helping to build up a better picture of her friends and habits.

Her family released a statement through the police. It read, “The family are devastated with the news and will try and come to terms with Catherine's disappearance.

“She is the light of our family and we can't imagine that light's gone.”