10:19am Thursday 18th March 2010
THE sister of missing Claudia Lawrence today urged people to come forward with information about the chef - even if means compromising their existing relationships.
As the Lawrence family marked the first anniversary of her disappearance, Ali Sims told GMTV: "I know that some people, if they were in a relationship and had a relationship with Claudia... I am sure they will want to save their existing relationship.
"But I think they should put that aside... they need to come forward."
Her plea came as detectives revealed Miss Lawrence spent the night with a mystery boyfriend two days before she went missing.
The detective leading the hunt for the missing 35-year-old said it is critical they speak to the man.
In a separate development, it was also revealed Miss Lawrence was involved in a long-term, casual sexual relationship with another man when she vanished.
The man was in a long-term relationship with another woman, but is not believed to be the boyfriend Miss Lawrence was with a few nights before she went missing.
Miss Lawrence was last seen near her home in Heworth, York, on March 18 last year.
Ms Sims said of the anniversary: "It's been a difficult year. It was very raw at the start and with it being the anniversary it brings all of that back.
She also criticised some of the coverage about Miss Lawrence's alleged relationships, some of which have come to light since her disappearance.
"I think it's just so unfair, she is not around to defend herself," her sister said. "It's almost gone out of control.
"She is single, she has had boyfriends, but she has not gone out to hurt people."
Ms Sims added the spate of revelations could stop some people from giving information to the police.
Miss Lawrence failed to arrive for work the morning after she was last seen and police believe she may have come to harm by someone she knew.
Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway described the latest development as "extremely hot" intelligence.
He said: "Critically, information has come to us only today whereby we understand that Claudia has told (someone) that she was actually out on one of the evenings, on one of the nights which immediately preceded her disappearance - out into the very early hours with what she described as a boyfriend and we are talking deep into the night, half past four or five o'clock in the morning.
"That is something we didnt know previously. I'm appealing (for that person to) please come forward because there is nothing suspicious in that, it is just the fact we do need to eliminate that person from our investigation."
He added: "It would appear to be reliable information and I have got no reason to doubt it. It is significant that we do identify who that person is."
Police said a friend remarked on March 17 - the day before she disappeared - that Miss Lawrence looked tired and she replied she had spent the night with a boyfriend.
Mr Galloway said there had been a theme running through the investigation where people had still not come forward with vital information.
He added: "It has been an all too frequent feature of the investigation whereby people have been reluctant to be candid with us."
He said Miss Lawrence compartmentalised her lifestyle.
"Very few people actually knew what Claudia did when she went home and closed the doors," he said.
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