Two new CCTV images of Vitoria Barreto, who went missing in Brightlingsea a month ago, have been released by Essex Police.

The first shows Vitoria, a Brazilian national, walking across a field south of Hurst Green at 3.33pm (pictured below), two hours after she arrived in the town by bus on March 3, and an hour after she was seen on Hurst Green.

In the second, captured at 12.22am on March 4, Vitoria is seen on Oliver’s Wharf, eight minutes after previously released images showed her in Morgan Marine’s boatyard. Both images can be seen on this Essex Police video.

The 12.22am sighting is the last time Vitoria was seen, and although police have been working on the theory that she may have been the person who unmoored a boat – later found drifting off Bradwell – from a pontoon in the creek, they have been unable to confirm this.

The officer leading the search, Detective Superintendent Anna Granger, said: “We’re continuing to work to close the timeframe between the last known sighting of Vitoria and the time which we know a boat was unmoored from a pontoon.

“Whilst we are not able to conclusively say that it was Vitoria who unmoored that boat, which was then found adrift at Bradwell-on-Sea, this new confirmed sighting brings her closer to that area and does strengthen the view that it was her,” she added. “We’ve always based our searches on the basis that the person is Vitoria but we would dearly love to provide her loved ones with certainty – and we’re continuing to work to do that.”

This week Vitoria’s family and friends said they were launching a petition calling on the Home Office to help expedite the release of communication and banking data by the Brazilian authorities.

However, Det. Supt Granger “All our requests have been made through the correct channels and we’re ready to receive that information as soon as possible.We’re continuing to work with international partners to gain access to Vitoria’s communication and financial data which we hope could open up further lines of enquiry.”

Police have continued to appeal for anyone who may have seen Vitoria in Brightlingsea, or who may have any information, to contact them. “Vitoria’s loved ones have many questions and we’re working incredibly hard to give them the answers they need,” said Det. Supt Granger.

• Essex Police has a dedicated portal through which any information as to Vitoria’s whereabouts can be reported. Alternatively, anyone with information can call 999, quoting incident 622 of 4 March.

Search for Vitoria Timeline

Tuesday March 3

• Vitoria travels to Essex University with friend
• 1pm: Vitoria catches an 87 bus to Brightlingsea at Boundary Road, Wivenhoe
• 1.30pm: Leaves bus at Bellfield Avenue
• 2.30pm: Seen on doorbell camera at Hurst Green

Wednesday March 4

• 12.16pm: Vitoria seen on CCTV in boatyard on Brightlingsea’s Shipyard Estate
• 12.16-12.32pm: Boat unmoored in Brightlingsea Creek
• Vitoria reported missing
• Police searches begin

Monday March 9

• Vitoria’s bag found near fence bordering Shipyard Estate
• Forensic officers seen on Shipyard Estate

Wednesday March 11

• Searches carried out on coastline along the Rivers Blackwater & Crouch, the Dengie peninsula and the southern coast of Mersea Island by Essex police air suppor, marine unit and specialist search teams

Thursday March 12

• Coastline searches continue

Saturday March 14

• Laptop discovered in Brightlingsea

Sunday March 15

• Family and friends take boat trip following route believed to have been taken by the unmoored boat

Tuesday March 17

• Police examining new CCTV footage of the harbour

Friday March 20

• Police say vast majority of “physical search” work has been completed.

Sunday March 22

• Vigil held on Hurst Green

Wednesday March 25

• Police say Vitoria “likely” to have been seen on CCTV on afternoon of March 3.
• Accessing communication and banking data is “proving a challenge”.

Wednesday April 1

• Police release video footage of Vitoria, which shows her on a field and on Oliver’s Wharf.