Facebook forced into u-turn as it gives cops access to messages of schoolboy, 15, who vanished leaving a note reading ‘I’m bored of life’
Family's relief at decision by social media giant following disappearance of Arthur Heeler-Frood on September 6
FACEBOOK have been forced into a u-turn by parents of a missing grammar schoolboy who slammed them for not providing access to his final messages.
Arthur Heeler-Frood, 15, vanished after leaving home to cycle seven miles to school on September 6.
The pupil left the family home in Devon with £350, leaving behind his mobile phone, passport and bank cards.
He posted a letter to his parents explaining that he was bored with life but promised to be back within a year.
His mother Caroline said the mobile phone he left behind showed that he had been on Facebook the previous night.
And today Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the social network was helping in the hunt for Arthur.
"Despite requests, Facebook has not been forthcoming.
"We have written about half a dozen letters directly and there has been no reply. I feel that this is an issue of child safety and this should take precedence over privacy.”
Ms Heeler-Frood suggested that Arthur might have been influenced by George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London, which he had been reading as one of his school’s recommended texts. This famous part-memoir recounts how Orwell lived on the breadline.
He was also a fan of survival TV star Bear Grylls, and had seen his elder brother Reuben and sister Hester travelling through Europe in the summer.
“I think he was hungry for a bit of adventure,” his mum said.
“But it is very hard for us.
"Obviously his letter indicated that he had planned his departure very carefully but after that we have had absolutely no information. There have been no CCTV sightings, nothing.”
Ms Heeler-Frood said school friends indicated that Arthur had been talking about Orwell’s book the day before he disappeared.
But she added:“We do not really know his intentions.
"Or what sort of situation he might place himself in — 15-year-old boys can be reckless and he lacked a bit of emotional maturity.
"He was a bit over-confident, a bit naive, and being the youngest, was always keen to keep up.”
Ms Heeler-Frood, who lives with her husband, Jeremy, near Axminster, Devon, said she thought that her son had become anxious at the departure of his sister Hester, 18, for university.
“He was not looking forward to being the only one [child] at home,” she said. “He did not want to hang out with his parents. It is quite isolated where we live and the catchment area for the school is large so his friends are spread out.
"He does not have many really close friends.”
Arthur had just started his A Levels at Colyton Grammar school in Devon.
The school is a state-funded, co-educational grammar rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted in three successive reports.
Headteacher, Tim Harris, said: "We are helping the police in the search for Arthur.
"He is a bright, popular and sociable boy who has just got outstanding GCSE results this summer and has just started his A-levels.
"We urge Arthur to make contact with his family to let them know he is safe and well."
Police have asked for anyone who may have employed Arthur, provided him with accommodation or transport to get in touch.
Superintendent Sam de Reya said: “We are appealing to business owners, likely to be restaurateurs, hoteliers and café owners, who may have had a young man work for them in the past few months.”
He is described as white, 5ft 4in, of slight build with short light brown hair. Information can be passed to police by calling 101 or emailing 101@dc.police.ukquoting log 255 of September 14.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368