A DEVASTATED mum from Clydebank has been walking the streets of Glasgow in a desperate bid to find her missing son.

Marie Casey, 73, moved to Australia 30 years ago with her children – but son Joseph Carmichael, who was in his 20s at the time, decided to stay in Scotland.

The heartbroken pensioner has returned home for five months and is determined to get in touch with Joseph, who is known for being homeless – but so far she has had no luck.

Marie told the Post: “Joseph is the type of person who doesn’t keep in touch – he’s never got a phone number or address, but I know he’s always there.

“I come over every three years and usually in the first week he comes to see me. It’s been 12 weeks and I’ve not heard anything; I’m really distressed now and struggling to sleep with worry.

The family lived in Duntocher for 20 years and Joseph, who is now 52, attended Our Holy Redeemer Primary.

In 2018, a national newspaper reported that the grandfather of four was sleeping in a tent on the banks of the River Clyde.

Marie said: “I was devastated when I found out he was sleeping in a tent. After that, he got help to find a house, but I don’t know what happened to it. He didn’t take drugs or have a drinking problem. He’s just never grown up, he’s just a big boy – well, my boy.”

In efforts to find Joseph, Marie has been posting on social media, contacted the police, and has even been walking the streets of Glasgow at night, as well as visiting homeless shelters – but staff and volunteers are unable to tell her anything.

She said: “Sometimes he goes missing, but never for as long as this. I left it until October until I went to police and they did all sorts of checks. They said he had no warrants, wasn’t in prison and that he wasn’t dead.

“Someone had told me they heard he passed away last year, and it made me so upset. I really don’t know what else to do – it’s making me ill.

“When I’m here we usually spend Christmas together…if I found him, it would make my Christmas – what a present that would be.

“A few years ago, I got him cherry red Doc Martens with yellow laces for Christmas and he loved them. I hope he’s still wearing them.

“I just can’t get away with this. Somebody’s got to know something – you can’t just disappear. People do go missing for years but what happens to them?

“I just feel there’s something not right.”

When Marie posted an appeal on social media, she received a number of responses.

She said: “One lady told me she had seen him before outside Primark on Argyle Street. He wasn’t begging but he was sitting there.

“She gave him money and he thanked her, and she was amazed at how well-mannered and grateful he was. She went back to give him a sleeping bag and he wasn’t there.”

Due to health reasons, this is the last time Marie will be back in Scotland and is due to fly back to Australia on January 13 for good.

She is desperate to find Joseph and is appealing to anyone who knows anything about his whereabouts to get in touch.

Marie added: “Im going to try get him to Australia. It’s not good for him here at his age lying in the streets, or at any age, and it’s too cold.”

Please contact 0141 435 8853 if you know any information.