It’s emerged that Mark Speight had a long phone conversation with his mum after he was last seen in north London. Jackie, who lives in Wolverhampton, says that Mark seemed “upbeat” during the chat yesterday afternoon, as he headed to central London to meet Carmen Collins, the mother of his late girlfriend Natasha. “Carmen waited and waited but he did not show up,” says a friend of the family. “She and Jackie are both worried sick but hoping and praying for the best. Mark is not thought to have said anything during those phone conversations that gave concern for his well-being. He had sounded upbeat after calling his mum.” Mark’s stepmum Francoise has also spoken out on behalf of Mark’s dad Oliver Speight. “We are anxious and extremely worried for Mark's safety. It is very upsetting for everyone especially after what happened to Natasha,” she says. “Mark is an extremely sensitive person. He was devastated, naturally, by what happened. But he has no reason to feel guilty – he's not responsible. Mark's dad has been on the phone to him every day since this happened because he has been so vulnerable but on Monday Mark wasn't answering his phone and that is not like him, which is why we are so worried. He is in an extremely delicate state. He's not my son, but I love him like he is my own. This whole tragedy has turned his life upside down and he needs love, support and understanding.”