‘Just come back to us safely’ - family of missing Ballymena man plead

Speaking to the Times on Monday afternoon, his brother, Richard Bonnes, said that, as far he was concerned, there was ‘categorically no third party involvement’ in Jonathan’s disappearance.

He said that the only concern of friends and family were that Jonathan return to them safely.

“It doesn’t matter about anything else,” he said. “Our message is we want him home safely. He is a paternal figure to six children and they are really upset and missing him greatly,” said Richard.

He added that his brother had suffered from periods of depression and he had ‘gone off by himself’ before but he conceded that the family are becoming increasingly worried as more time passes without contact.

“We are realistic enough to know that it is possible that a tragedy has taken place,” said Richard.

The search for Jonathan began shortly after he went missing from Ballymena almost two weeks ago, but was largely concentrated in the Portrush area at the tail end of last week after Jonathan’s car was found at the Royal Court Hotel.

Police said at the time it was unclear whether Jonathan drove the car himself to the location.

A PSNI spokesperson said they had also received sightings of him in Belfast.

Jonathan is described as being approximately 5’9” tall, of stocky build, with very short or shaved dark hair. He has tattoos on both arms.

When last seen he was wearing a navy hooded top, dark blue tracksuit bottoms and black and white Nike Air Max trainers.

Jonathan, or anyone who knows of his whereabouts, is asked to contact their local police station on the new non-emergency number 101.