ONE OF the latest reported sightings of missing Newport man Ben Caplan has been of him getting into a vehicle in Cwmbran.

According to Mr Caplan’s wife, Danielle, an off-duty police officer contacted her on Wednesday evening to say he’d just seen someone he believed to be Ben getting into a green Mondeo on Cwmbran Drive. The vehicle has been traced to an owner from the Birmingham area.

Danielle said: “I’m not aware if he knows this guy, but Ben is the type to hitch hike and get in a car with someone he doesn’t know.”

All reported sightings are yet to verified by CCTV and the river search continues.

A Gwent Police spokesman said: “Sadly Ben Caplan remains missing with no confirmed sightings since he was last seen in Caerleon on Saturday night. “As part of the investigation officers are looking at several potential lines of enquiry. We’ve taken a number of calls from the public with potential sightings but as yet none of these have been verified as being of Ben.

Meanwhile a social media campaign is encouraging people  to make the Argus Ben Poster their Facebook profile picture for at least 48 hours, to keep raising awareness.

“We continue to urge anyone who thinks they may have seen Ben after 11pm in Caerleon on Saturday 07 December to contact us on 101 quoting log 295 08/12/13”