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Man behind Claudia website is unmasked: COMMENT ON THIS STORY
A wealthy City trader has been revealed as the man behind the bogus Claudia Lawrence appeal website.
Fears are growing for the welfare of the 35-year-old Malton chef who went missing on her way to work at the University of York on Wednesday, March 18.
Her anxious family was made even more distraught when the controversial website suddenly appeared, urging people to give generously.
The site went dead after police announced they were investigating.
Now Dutch-born Maichel Los, a 39-year-old manager and trader, has been unmasked as the man behind the venture.
When confronted by Sky News, Los denied doing anything wrong. "I never said that I want money," he said. "It is absolutely not the case."
Los promised to pay back any donated cash and said he had used false names to avoid spam.
Meanwhile, police have now ruled out of their investigation the owner of a pick-up truck seen parked outside Miss Lawrence's home on the day of her disappearance.
The investigation is now the biggest seen in North Yorkshire since the search for multiple killer Mark Hobson five years ago.
Det Supt Ray Galloway, who is leading the search for Miss Lawrence, thanked the public for its "magnificent" help.
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Weather for Scarborough
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
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