Police searching for a missing former colleague of MoneySavingExpert Martin Lewis who vanished on his 37th birthday have found a body.
Anthony Hill, 37, who disappeared from Norwich on Monday morning, used to work on the deals team at the financial website founded by Lewis before going into teaching.
The father-of-two worked for the company for almost six years – but then retrained as a teacher and worked at St William’s Primary School in Thorpe St Andrew.
His heartbroken wife, Kayleigh, previously issued a desperate plea on social media for people to help ‘find my girls’ daddy’.
Martin Lewis wrote this lunchtime: ‘It’s with a heavy heart I share this. My love to Ant’s wife Kayleigh and their little girls. It’s the worst news.
‘I’m so sorry for all Ant’s friends and his little pupils. I will remember you fondly Ant.
‘Also thanks to the thousands of you who shared the posts while Ant was missing, I know it gave succour to his family. RIP’
The former journalist was last seen leaving his home on Plumstead Road East at 7.45am on June 17 – and the school later said that he had been reported as missing.
A statement from Norfolk Police said: ‘Police can confirm the body of a man was found in Norwich last night.
Anthony Hill, aged 37, had been last seen at 7.45am on Monday when he left his home in Norwich
Mr Hill, pictured with his wife Kayleigh before he went missing
MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis had appealed for help to find Mr Hill
‘The body was discovered in an area off Heathgate in the city shortly before 8pm.
‘Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, the family of 37-year-old Anthony Hill, who was reported missing from his home in Norwich on Monday have been informed.
‘The death is not believed to be suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the coroner in due course.’
MoneySavingExpert Mr Lewis previously called the news of his former colleague’s disappearance as ‘devastating’.
He posted on X while he was still missing: ‘Anthony is a lovely man who used to work on the MoneySavingExpert deals team before leaving to pursue his valiant passion to get into teaching.
‘I hope and pray he’s OK. Please please spread word.’
Kayleigh replied on Facebook saying: ‘Really appreciate Martin Lewis doing everything in his power to share this.
‘Everyone has got so much love for Ant.’
CCTV images released by police show Mr Hill at the Co-op Store on Sprowston Road at around 10am on Monday.
Officers believe he then walked towards Mousehold Heath via Gilman Road.
Mr Hill’s wife, Kayleigh, 36, helped organise a huge search of the local area for her husband asking for help to find her ‘girls’ daddy’.
The search for the 37-year-old was focused on a large wooded area near their home.
Kayleigh posted on social media earlier this week: ‘Anyone who has any spare time to help is so much appreciated, I’ll be out there today we need to find my girls’ daddy.’
The couple had two daughters together, aged four and six.
She added: ‘Please keep looking, please Ant if you see any of this please come home, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been gone just come home we love you and need you back.’
Yesterday the mother-of-two posted an update saying: ‘Thank you to all that have been out again today we’ve been out as much as we can apart from back home to charge phones.
‘I bumped in to some lovely people who offered their support, hugs and well wishes, it’s all so much appreciated, we’ve come home now as we were losing the light but will be back out tomorrow morning once I’ve spoken with the officer in charge.
‘Please keep sharing and looking, anything you think might help, my heart is broken, we need him home.’
Mrs Hill shared a heartfelt plea on Facebook to help find her husband
This CCTV still shows Anthony Hill the day he vanished – his 37th birthday
Mr Hill is pictured at the Co-op store on Sprowston Road at around 10am on Monday
Mr and Mrs Hill pictured on a night out together. He went missing on his 37th birthday
Mr Lewis called the news of Mr Hill’s disappearance ‘devastating’ in a post on X while he was still missing
She said she had been overwhelmed by the help from people in the local community and that she ‘appreciates it more than anything’.
Kayleigh also appealed on Facebook for people to review any doorbell camera or dashcam footage from the area and issued a photograph of the outfit he was last wearing.
Mr Hill was last seen wearing brown chino trousers, a black checked shirt, a green coat and a yellow rucksack.
Officers described him as white, 5ft 7 inches tall, of a slim build and with short brown hair.
Police said while they were carrying out the search that they were concerned for Mr Hill’s welfare and would like to hear from anyone who has seen him or knows where he is.
Inspector Adam Binns from Norfolk Police said at the time: ‘We are concerned for Anthony’s welfare and would like to hear from anyone who may have seen him on Monday morning when we believe he was travelling on foot in the area of Mousehold Heath.
‘Our searches are currently concentrated in this area with specialist search teams including the police drone carrying out extensive searches of the land.’