Levi Davis's desperate mum begs 'treat my missing son like Madeleine McCann'

Rugby player Levi Davis was last seen in Barcelona two years ago yesterday and now his mum Julie, from Solihull, West Midlands, says she feels "abandoned by the police"

The despairing mother of missing rugby player Levi Davis has called on police to treat his case like that of Madeleine McCann.

Julie Davis says she feels "abandoned" by Spanish police and believes her son was a "victim of crime". Levi was 24 when he went missing, and was last seen in Barcelona two years ago yesterday.

His desperate mum, who is from Solihull, West Midlands, said: "We have felt abandoned by the police. They pulled out the stops to find Jay Slater and search for Madeleine McCann. They need to do the same now for Levi. Until his body is found, I will not give up."

Julie referred to the high-profile search for Madeleine, who vanished aged three in Praia da Luz, Lagos, Portugal, on the evening of May 3, 2007. Madeleine's parents continued the investigation using private detectives until Scotland Yard opened its own inquiry, Operation Grange, in 2011. The senior investigating officer announced that he was treating the disappearance as "a criminal act by a stranger", most likely a planned abduction or burglary gone wrong.

Julie wants British police to review the case in the same way. Levi, who was a winger for Bath, was last seen at The Old Irish Pub in Barcelona, and his passport was later discovered at the port in the city.

Days before he was last seen, Levi said online his life was in danger over an alleged blackmail plot. Reports of failings in the Spanish police investigation led safeguarding minister Jess Phillips to back his mum's call for a review of new evidence.

Mossos d'Esquadra - the Catalan Police - have told the BBC they are waiting to hear from the courts whether there will be another investigation, as cases are directed by a judge.

West Midlands Police say the investigation is being run by the Spanish authorities and they will help "if there are any further developments", and continue to "offer support to Levi’s family".

But Julie says she needs some answers. She told the BBC: "It's very hard being asked all the questions from other family and there being no update to give. I don't know if my son is dead or alive. He's my baby and he's very vulnerable and I just want him home."