A MUM has appealed for her missing partner to come home in time for their son’s 15th birthday.

Ken Howarth, 45, of Crosland Moor, disappeared just after Christmas.

There have been three suspected sightings, but all have come to nothing.

Now partner Sharon Stead has appealed to Ken to come home before son Alex’s birthday on January 16.

“Steve’s a great dad and we just want him back,” said Sharon, 43.

“If Ken or anyone who knows him reads this we just want him to come home.

“We all love him and want him back where he belongs.”

Ken, who also had a private rented flat in Pellon Lane, Halifax, went missing on December 27.

He got up as usual and went to a cash machine at the Co-op in Crosland Moor and withdrew £300.

He returned and put his receipt and cash card on the side and left £80 for Sharon.

He then went upstairs, brought Sharon a cup of tea and said he was going to Halifax to pay his rent.

Sharon recalled: “I said I would go with him but he said ‘no, you’ve been cooking and looking after everyone over Christmas’. He gave me a kiss and went out of the door.

“Everything seemed fine and I never gave it another thought.

“When he hadn’t come home I thought he’d gone shopping or got caught up but the next day I knew something wasn’t right.”

Sharon went to Halifax but there was no sign of Ken.

Ken was off work for the festive period but had been due to sign a permanent contract as a maintenance worker for a housing association looking after properties in Elland.

Ken, who had suffered mental health problems in the past, had been stable and well for some time.

“All I can think of is that he wasn’t well,” said Sharon.

There have been three possible sightings of Ken, two of which were ruled out and a third, in Milnsbridge, which remains unconfirmed.

The family’s hopes were raised by reports that Ken had been seen in Meltham but the man – said to be a “double” for Ken – was traced and discounted.

“It’s hard when your hopes get raised and dashed,” said Sharon.

Sharon and Ken met through friends in Mirfield 20 years ago.

Ken, who grew up in the town and went to Mirfield High School, was invited in when Sharon got a house.

He offered to plumb in her cooker – and love blossomed.

Alex was born in 1998 and Ken became a dad to Sharon’s children Anton, now 23, and Samantha, 21.

Previously married, Ken has two other children Lisa, 25, and Michael, 23.

The police have helped the family’s search by printing posters which Sharon has been busy putting up across Huddersfield and Halifax.

“The police have been brilliant and we just want blanket coverage all over the area in the hope someone has seen him,” said Sharon.

Two other local men also went missing just before Christmas.

Neil Bryson, 50, of Scholes, disappeared on November 27 and Bernard Hallas, 84, of Bradley, vanished on December 18.

Anyone with information should ring police on 101.

Criminals' cash should be returned to region says crime chief Mark Burns-Williamson: Click here to read.