Family appeal after woman fails to return home from Tunisa

The family of a Sussex mother have raised concerns for her safety after she travelled to Tunisia to attend divorce proceedings and failed to return to the UK.

Relatives of 40-year-old Melissa Everest, from Lancing, near Worthing, West say her failure to keep in touch is 'completely out of character.'

Melissa flew to the capital Tunis from Gatwick Airport on July 6for divorce proceedings involving her 23-year-old estranged husband Adem Brins Harrabi.

During her time in Tunis, Mrs Everest attended court and her sister says she intended to fly home on July 14 after the case was adjourned to a later date.

Her family said she spoke to some relatives in the UK the day before her flight and sounded fine. But she failed to catch her plane home, they said.

Her mobile phone goes to voicemail and a week has now passed since they last heard from her.

Sussex Police said that following inquiries via the National Crime Agency and the Foreign Office, the Tunisian Police found Mrs Everest and "she confirmed to them that she was in Tunisia of her own free will".

A police spokesman said: "The family have been told this. But her family say they will not accept she is safe until they have heard from her directly.

Speaking from Tunisia, Mr Harrabi told the Press Association: "Everything isalright. She is in Tunis and that's all I have to say. She is well, and she is OK. Nothing has happened to her.

Mrs Everest met Mr Harrabi on summer holiday in Tunisia in 2015. They married there in August last year but their relationship broke down.