HUMAN remains discovered on Crete have been confirmed as those of Steven Cook, who has been missing since 2005.

Steven, from Sandbach, who was 20 at the time of his disappearance, went missing on September 1, 2005 during a holiday to Malia on the Greek island.

Steven – whose brother Chris lives in Comberbach – had travelled to the island with friends, and was last seen outside a pub in the resort asking for directions to his hotel.

He was en-route back to his hotel – the Hotel Frixos – when he went missing.

Despite extensive inquiries by his family, the Greek authorities, the British Consulate and Cheshire Police Steven has never been found, until now.

On Thursday, February 16, human remains was discovered in a well in Malia, Crete.

Cheshire Police were informed and have been working with the Greek authorities to establish whether the remains were of those of Steven Cook, which has now been confirmed.

Det Insp Gary McIntyre said: “The remains were removed from the site and taken to a nearby hospital for further forensic examination.

“Tests have been carried out and we have now received confirmation from the Greek authorities that the remains belong to Steven Cook, who went missing on September 1, 2005 during a holiday to the island.”

Det Insp McIntyre said Steven’s family have been kept fully updated on the developments and are currently being supported by Cheshire officers.

He said they have been provided with support since Steven first went missing and this will continue over the coming weeks.

“This is understandably an extremely upsetting and distressing time for the Cook family,” Det Insp McIntyre said.

“Steven’s relatives are very appreciative of all the support the media and the public have given them over the years in their quest to find him but they have asked for their privacy to be respected at this time as they are trying to come to terms with the news.

“It is important to remember that the discovery of Steven’s body is being managed by the Greek authorities, who have had primacy for this case since Steven was first reported missing, and they will continue to liaise with us moving forward.

"Our priority is to ensure that Steven is flown home to the UK as soon as possible. The remains will then be subject to the Cheshire Coronial process.

“Steven was 20 at the time of his disappearance. Over the years Cheshire Constabulary has remained committed to finding him.

"A file on Steven’s disappearance has been maintained by the force and we always said that it will not be closed until information is received which confirms what has happened to him.

“Officers involved in Steven’s case will continue to liaise with the Greek authorities, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Steven’s family moving forward.”

Speaking on Facebook today, Steven’s brother, Chris, said the family will finally be able to say goodbye.

He said: “Today we have learned that after over 11 years our much loved and missed son, brother, uncle, nephew, and friend will be finally coming home to be with us once again.

“Whilst we always carried hope in our hearts that Steve would come back much sooner and once again be able to share in our lives the laughter, love and happiness that he brought in the 20 years he shone amongst us, sadly we will be bringing him home to say our farewells.

“To bring Steve back home was always our goal, and as the years passed our hope never diminished.

“It is testament to the Steve we love that he would bring such fight and fortitude over such a long time in our search to bring him home.

“Not just from those who knew him but also from kind strangers across the world who shared our search, his plight, and provided support to a person, and family in need.”

Chris called the experience of missing a loved one a ‘vacuum full of pain’.

He said: “If they are no longer with us then the idle mind imagines horrors of 'what ifs' in order to account for them being alive and not in touch.

“The 'not knowing' hurts but not as much as the thoughts that your imagination conjures in the dark hours whilst also having to try and quench the flames of 'what ifs', rumours and gossip that becomes accepted as fact.

“Knowing that Steve is now coming home is an end to all of that and the fog can lift at last.

"Our memories of him finally released without being accompanied by the horrific mental images, feelings and type of thoughts that can easily destroy you.

“In getting Steve home then we have truly found him again, and we he will now continue to live through the shared the memories of all that knew him.”

Chris thanked Cheshire Police, friends, volunteers and the media – including the Northwich Guardian – who aided in the quest to find Steven and bring him home.

He urged the public to help other families who have been affected by similar ordeals.

He said: “Finally, throughout the time that Steve has been missing there have been an average of 300,000 missing persons cases in the UK each year.

“People go missing for a variety of reasons – crime, abuse, slavery, and mental illness – to name just a handful. It affects all communities and people across all aspects of society.

“We never thought this would happen to us. To that end we urge anyone reading this, having been touched by Steve's case, to follow missing persons UK on social media, to raise local awareness of cases and lobby their local MP for continued funding – as we learned a few years ago – for every missing person it averages out at around £1 per case.

“So please get involved and help families who have been through the horror that we have.

“There are many families who have been close to and supportive of Steven’s case notably Andrew Godsden, Luke Durbin, Damien Nettles, and Ben Needham so please help them in whichever way you can. Whilst our search is very much at an end there are many who continue to suffer.

“Our focus now turns to bringing Steven home so that we can once again be close to him, and we request that our privacy is respected throughout this time.

"Rest in Peace Stevie – You Will Never Walk Alone.”