MISSING

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Around two hundred thousand Britons go missing from their families each year. Thankfully most return home within a few days, but what about the ones who don't?

Four years after Stephen Back's disappearance, Inside Out visits his family to discover the anguish and uncertainty faced by those left behind.

The pressures of modern life affect most people at some point in their lives, but for some, the stress can become so great that they feel the only escape is to walk away.

For the families left behind, there is the fear that their loved one may have been abducted, murdered, or have committed suicide.

Yet without any evidence or sightings, all families are left with is uncertainty and the painfully inconclusive description "missing".

This is the situation that Stephen's family face.

Without trace

Stephen was destined to enter the family building firm

Stephen grew up in the small town of Bishops Lydeard near Taunton.

After studying building at university, Stephen was destined to enter and eventually become director of the family's successful building firm.

In 1990 at the age of 28, Stephen married Jo and the couple later had two children Stephanie and Oliver.

"The gentle giant some people describe him as," says Stephen's father Charlie.

"A homely, family, caring person. Quiet, but very public spirited."

On January 22, 2001 however, what looked set to be a bright and promising future for Stephen, came to an abrupt and mysterious end.

"He said he needed a few days. I honestly thought he'd be back."

Charlie Back

Leaving behind his wife, his two children and £1m inheritance, Stephen Back disappeared.

Fateful phone call

Stephen's wife Jo first became aware of her husband's disappearance after a phone call from the Missing Persons Helpline.

"Tea-time came and I remember thinking 'where is he?'," remembers Jo.

"Then at 6.20pm the Missing Persons Helpline phoned me to say that Steve had phoned and wouldn't be coming home for a few days.

"I thought it was a hoax, but when they gave me his date of birth, it just hit me."

Desperately seeking

After initial searches of the local area proved fruitless, the Back family went national appearing on BBC One's Crimewatch.

The happy wedding group, unware of the anguish to follow 11 years later

Their appeal for information brought no further evidence to light and the family were left clueless.

Two weeks later however a letter from Stephen to his dad Charlie was uncovered in his office.

The letter set out exactly how Stephen wished his children to be looked after "should he not be here".

Funds were to be divided up with Stephen taking just £800 for himself, yet he allocated nothing for his wife.

With the discovery of the letter, thoughts understandably turned to suicide, but Charlie refused to believe his son was dead.

Different directions

After presenting a united front on Crimewatch, Charlie and Jo each found a different way of coping and rationalising Stephen's disappearance.

Jo is convinced that Stephen is dead

Whilst Charlie toured the country responding to any possible sightings, Jo was certain Stephen was dead.

Convinced by a psychic vision witnessed by her grandmother, Jo believes Stephen was killed in a climbing accident.

To help Stephanie and Oliver come to terms with their grief and anger, Jo encouraged them to make scrapbooks.

Letters and drawings convey the anguish the whole family feels.

To begin the healing process, Jo wiped Stephen's memory from their home.

"I've thrown out all his clothes. That was a decision the children and I made together."

Jo took the final step in distancing herself from Stephen - she filed for divorce.

"I had to divorce him to survive. Everything was in Steve's name."

With the anguish of losing a loved one, comes the desire to attribute blame.

Whilst Charlie blames Stephen's marriage for driving him away, Jo blames the stress of work.

The search continues

Four years after Stephen's disappearance, unable to rest without answers, Charlie is funding his own investigation.

A private detective and his team suspect Stephen has been murdered.

With high-tech lasers, laptops and guided by archaeologists the team take to the skies in a helicopter, scouring the countryside for clues.

From the air, the team locate several suspicious areas showing signs of recent disturbance.

On the ground, the team begin to peel back the turf.

"If he was out there still and was to be aware of this, he'd get upset and would make contact," insists Charlie.

"If he's not out there, if he's with the Lord looking down, he'd be saying 'thank you for not letting it rest'."

Three weeks on and the dig brings Charlie no nearer to discovering the truth about the disappearance of his son.

Whether Stephen has begun a new life with a new identity, taken his own life or was a victim of murder, one thing is certain, Stephen's memory will live on in the hearts of his family.

And Charlie will never end his search until he has the answers he so desperately needs.