UPDATE: Missing Stacey Hyde found after appeal

AN urgent appeal has been launched to find a missing 26-year-old woman who was cleared of murder two years ago.

Stacey Hyde, 26, was last seen in the Priorswood area of Taunton yesterday and officers believe she may be in an agitated state.

Miss Hyde was cleared of the murder of Vincent Francis by a jury at a retrial at Winchester Crown Court in June 2015.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said she was last seen at 4.30pm on New Year’s Eve and urge people not to approach her.

The spokesman said: “We’re concerned for her welfare and want to find her to make sure she is safe.

“Stacey is white, 6ft tall, of slim build and has blonde hair. She was wearing a red jumper and blue jeans which are possibly ripped.

“We believe she may be in the company of a man in his late 20s who is described as being of slim build with short, possibly bleached hair and facial hair.

"Stacey, who also sometimes goes by the name Anastasia Darlison, may be in an agitated state and we’d advise anyone who sees her not to approach her but to call us immediately.”

If you see her, or someone matching her description in the company of a young man, call 999 and provide the call handler with the reference 5217296617.

She was originally convicted at Bristol Crown Court in 2010 of killing the 34-year-old by stabbing him 17 times at the flat he shared with her friend.