For more than two decades, the disappearance of Anthony Dugdale had puzzled family, friends, and authorities alike.
The Kent father vanished in 2004 while on a trip to France, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions.
Only now, 20 years later, has the High Court ruled on what likely happened to him—bringing some closure to his loved ones.
A Trip That Turned Deadly
Anthony Dugdale, 43 at the time, had travelled to Calais in April 2004 with a friend, towing a newly purchased speedboat on a French ferry.
Initially, the pair were believed to be on a simple angling trip.
However, Dugdale and his friend Richard Patwell never returned.
Their Mercedes was later found abandoned near the Belgian coast, and the speedboat they had brought along was never recovered.
Over the years, public appeals and police investigations focused on the story of two “keen anglers.”
But inconsistencies in their trip, combined with new evidence, suggested a far more dangerous undertaking.
Turning Points in the Investigation
Police eventually shifted focus to a possible drugs operation.
Evidence hinted that Dugdale and Patwell had connections with drug dealers.
Dugdale’s son, Danny, later applied to the High Court to have his father declared dead so he could settle the family estate.
During the proceedings, it emerged that Dugdale had little boating experience.
He had bought the £11,000 speedboat in cash and appeared unfamiliar with engine maintenance.
The vessel itself was unsafe for Channel crossings, designed for short trips close to shore.
Dugdale had even placed a petrol canister on the back supports, further compromising the boat’s stability.
Evidence Points to a Botched Smuggling Attempt
The court heard that Dugdale and Patwell had switched off their phones before reaching Dover, making them untraceable via mobile signals.
French authorities found holdalls containing cannabis floating in the Channel on the night they departed.
There was also evidence of a distress call reporting engine trouble and narrowly avoiding a collision with a ship.
Solicitor John Davies, representing Dugdale’s son, explained that all signs pointed to a failed drug-smuggling run: “The police concluded that Anthony and Richard were trying to cross the Channel at night in an unsuitable speedboat and were most likely hit by a container ship.”
A History of Risky Behaviour
Anthony Dugdale’s past reinforced these findings.
He had previously been rescued from the Channel after attempting a crossing without a passport and suffering from hypothermia.
He had also worked on a Welsh farm that was later identified as a cannabis production site, with links to others involved in the drug trade.
The High Court ultimately accepted the police conclusion that Dugdale drowned in the Channel sometime between April 7 and 9, 2004.
Closure at Last
With the ruling, Dugdale is now officially declared dead, allowing his £33,000 estate to be administered.
He leaves behind his son Danny and potentially a daughter.
The fate of his companion, Richard Patwell, was not part of the case, so no conclusions were reached regarding him.
More than 20 years after he disappeared, the mystery surrounding Anthony Dugdale’s disappearance has finally been resolved, albeit in a tragic and cautionary tale of risk and recklessness.
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