A NEW revelation that Claudia Lawrence’s phone was switched off by somebody hours after she failed to arrive at work has been described as "frightening" by her mother Joan.

Ms Lawrence has not been seen since she failed to report for her chef’s job at York University’s Goodricke College ten-years-ago and no one has been held to account for her disappearance despite a £1m murder inquiry.

Reports have emerged quoting sources close to the police investigation who say her phone was turned off four hours after she failed to show up for work. This means it is a possibility that Ms Lawrence’s abductor switched off her phone after seeing that she had missed call from her boss at 10am on Thursday, March 19, 2009.

Mrs Lawrence’s mother Joan, born and brought up in Darlington, but now living in Malton, North Yorkshire, said: “It is frightening if these reports are right that it [the phone] was manually switched off by someone.”

She added: “I don’t know how significant this is, but anything that keeps the investigation in the public eye is to be welcomed.”

Claudia had been due to start her shift at 6am and at the time her manager called, her mobile was in an area that stretches nine miles from the university to Tockwith village.

This area includes her home in the east of York.

The Northern Echo:

Police outside the home of missing university chef Claudia Lawrence in Heworth when detectives launched a fresh review of the case

The police source told the Sunday Times: “Her mobile phone never left the area of York.

“This is part of the reason why the police believe she fell victim to an attack by somebody that she knew who was familiar with the area.”

In the years following Claudia’s death, the police investigation focused on her local pub, the Nag’s Head, close to her home in Heworth.

The Northern Echo:

Joan Lawrence, Claudia's mum

A total of nine people have been arrested, some with connections to the pub, but there was not enough evidence to bring charges.

Ms Lawrence’s dad, Peter, said not knowing what happened to his daughter is hard to live with and urged anyone with information about her disappearance to contact the police.

The Northern Echo:

Peter Lawrence, Claudia's dad

He said: “For ten years I’ve been in limbo. We still don’t know any more than we did. It’s the not knowing – that’s what eats into you every single day. If anybody knows anything, please, let the police know.”