Michael Martin ‘disappeared off the face of the earth’ two years ago.

Police have established he has not come to harm as a result of an accident.

He is not hiding, and he has not run away.

They are convinced he has been murdered - but there is no body.

Detectives believe the 25-year-old was sucked in to Salford ’s criminal underworld and that on the night before he vanished he collected several thousand pounds.

It’s likely Michael would not have benefitted from that money. He had mental health issues and was being used and exploited by an organised crime gang who preyed on his vulnerability, detectives believe.

But the key to solving the case lies with those criminal associates. A reward for information leading to a conviction has now been massively increased - from £10,000 to £50,000.

(Image: PA)

Michael had been seen behaving ‘erratically’ at 7.30am on Sunday, August 7, 2016, at the Esso petrol station on the A666 Bolton Road in Kearsley, Bolton. Shortly afterwards he disappeared.

His mother, Karen Williams, has accepted that he is likely to be dead - and has today spoken of the ‘torture’ of not knowing where his body lies.

Detective Supt Lewis Hughes, said: “From our inquiries Michael and his friend collected a large amount of money on the evening before Michael disappeared from the petrol station. We suspect that that money may have been from criminality and it may have been taken from other criminals.

(Image: PA)

“We believe that Michael was being exploited and coerced by those that used Michael to assist with their own game, their own criminality.

“Some of Michael’s friends are gang members. I believe they know what has happened to Michael. They may be involved in his murder, in his disappearance.”

The crime gang Michael was involved with has links to drug dealing and high-value robberies.

“I believe his associates preyed on his vulnerability and exploited Michael”, Det Supt Hughes added.

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Michael had been living on his own in a flat in Westwood Avenue, Little Hulton, Salford, at the time of his disappearance.

CCTV from the petrol station, in the minutes before he vanished, shows him opening three doors of his black Ford Focus.

He then goes inside the shop, where he can be seen talking to an associate - police believe it was an argument. After that conversation Michael returned to the car where he appeared to inspect the rear of it, before suddenly running away. The man he was talking to later got into Michael’s Focus and drove away.

The car was later found abandoned in Vermere Avenue, Blackley with damage to the ignition and window.

(Image: PA)

Michael needed medication for his mental health condition and may have been in the midst of an episode when he ran away from the petrol station.

CCTV shows him dart across the main road and then down an alleyway. He has not been seen since.

The man seen with him at the petrol station was arrested on suspicion of assaulting Michael but was released without charge.

A second man was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting Michael but no action was taken against him either.

Mr Hughes said that the night before he vanished Michael had been out with the same man he was seen talking to at the petrol station.

“They had been to the city centre, Blackley, Middleton, numerous areas. I believe they met with friends and criminal associates. During that night we know they collected a large amount of money, believed to be in the thousands, and that money has never been recovered.

“It may be that the argument we see at the petrol station is Michael and his friend arguing about that cash.”

He added: “It has been two years since Michael was last seen and the agony that his family have had to endure every day since then is truly heart-breaking.

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“We remain committed to finding out exactly what happened to Michael and believe that someone within the local community knows what happened to him or has information that could really assist with our enquiries.

“We are offering a significant amount of money for any information that helps us find out what happened to Michael and bring those responsible to justice.

“If you know anything at all, I implore you, please get in touch with us so that we can provide Michael’s family with some answers.”

Michael’s mother, said: “He was a popular boy. He loved going to the gym...socialising.

“He was just one of those really good kids who grew up and took the wrong path, which got him in trouble.”

She last saw him on the Wednesday before he vanished.

“We had a hug and a kiss and that’s the last time I saw him. It has been torture, every single day.

“I know he is out there somewhere and to be never able to see him, or speak to him, or tell him how much I love him again is a nightmare every day.”

(Image: Manchester evening news)

Appealing to those who know what happened to her son to come forward, she said: “You can do it anonymously, but you have to do this, you have to have a conscience, you can’t live with this.

“We will never be at rest until we find out where my son is. We want to bring him home. We want some closure.

“I know people out there that know his whereabouts, that are keeping quiet about it, which is an awful thing to do. All I can say is for God’s sake please come forward.”

Mr Hughes said: “This is the most complex murder case I’ve ever investigated. A body has never been recovered, therefore a post mortem can’t take place, there are no witnesses that have come forward, there is no crime scene, no murder weapon. Michael has literally disappeared of the face of the earth.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact GMP’s Major Incident Team on 0161 856 8797 or 07387 705 768 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.