Missing Andrew Gosden's father has revealed he has been plagued by 'nasty scenarios' in his head since learning two men were arrested for kidnap and trafficking over the then 14-year-old boy's disappearance in 2007.
Kevin Gosden previously feared that a child sex ring was involved in his son's abduction and said the latest arrests are 'another unknown that's hard to cope with'.
Andrew, who would be 28 now, vanished from Doncaster on September 14, 2007 - just four months after Madeleine McCann had gone missing in May - and the mystery surrounding his disappearance has been one of the most high-profile missing persons cases of the last 20 years.
The straight-A student was last seen on CCTV at King's Cross station at around 11.20am the same day - but the reason he travelled to the capital and his whereabouts since have remained a mystery.
Yesterday, detectives confirmed they arrested two men in London, assisted by officers from the Metropolitan Police, on Wednesday, December 8.
South Yorkshire Police said a 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of kidnap, human trafficking and the possession of indecent images of children. And a 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of kidnap and human trafficking. Both have now been released under investigation while enquiries continue.
Andrew Gosden (pictured) was just 14 when he vanished after he left his house in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, withdrew £200 and bought a one-way ticket to London
Kevin Gosden (pictured) previously feared that a child sex ring was involved in his son's abduction and said the latest arrests are 'another unknown that's hard to cope with'
A statement issued on behalf of Andrew Gosden's family on Twitter said: 'We understand that Police investigations will take several months to complete, so until that is the case, we do not know what to think and do not wish to speculate on any possible outcome'
Kevin told Yorkshire Live the family are trying not to get 'overwhelmed' by the news.
He added: 'It's more about what goes on in your head. Obviously some fairly nasty scenarios start to play in your head but we put that to one side because it's still under investigation and worrying doesn't get you anywhere.'
In an interview with ITV News he said: 'We're not able to reach any conclusion about it, so for us it's just another unknown that's hard to cope with.'
A statement issued on behalf of Andrew Gosden's family on Twitter said: 'It is a difficult time for Andrew's family who currently know no more than what is written in the article.
'Police investigations will be ongoing for quite a while and we respectfully ask you to give them your support and consideration whilst this takes place.'
Andrew left his home in the Balby area of Doncaster on September 14 and was seen heading down Littlemoor Lane, towards Westfield Park, at around 8.30am.
Once his parents had left for work, Andrew returned home and changed out of his school uniform into casual clothes, consisting of a black Slipknot T-shirt, black jeans, and a black bag.
Around an hour later, he withdrew £200 from his bank account and boarded a London-bound train at Doncaster station.
He was captured on CCTV at Kings Cross station at around 11.20am the same day. That was the last known sighting of Andrew, and since then no information about his movements has been corroborated by police, despite a massive manhunt.
Kevin Gosden (right) and wife Glenys (left), have commissioned their own searches over the years in a bid to find Andrew
The straight-A student was last seen on CCTV at King's Cross in September 2007, but his reason for heading to the capital and his whereabouts have remained a mystery
Now, detectives have confirmed they arrested two men, assisted by officers from the Metropolitan Police, on Wednesday, December 8
Happier times: Kevin Gosden (centre) pictured with daughter Charlotte and son Kevin, who has been missing for almost 15 years
Andrew's face has featured in campaigns all across the country as missing persons charities have publicised his case everywhere from on milk cartons to buses. Kevin (pictured) previously said that police fixated on accusing him of involvement in Andrew's disappearance, driving him into a deep depression
Kevin Gosden (front), with daughter Charlotte (middle) and wife Glenys (back), lighting a candle at the Altar of St James Church in Piccadilly, central London, where a service to mark the one year anniversary of his 14-year-old son's disappearance too place in 2008
Video footage and witnesses reveal Andrew boarded a train at Doncaster and spent the journey playing on his handheld PlayStation. By around 11.45am, the 14-year-old was in London, hundreds of miles away from home and his family.
The contradictions in Andrew's behaviour that day has led to conflicting theories about whether he had decided to run away, or if he was on a day trip that went horribly wrong.
One theory is that Andrew had arranged to meet a friend or attend a concert in the capital when something or someone happened to him, but no evidence of a plan has ever been uncovered.
A more sinister suggestion is that Andrew was groomed by someone who had arranged to meet him in London that day. But again, no evidence of any communication with anyone on his plans has ever come to light.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Andy Knowles, said: 'Our priority at this time is supporting Andrew's family while we work through this new line of enquiry in the investigation.
'We are in close contact with them and they ask that their privacy is respected as our investigation
