A former detective who assisted Jay Slater’s family during the time the 19-year-old went missing in Tenerife has come forward, stating that Spanish law enforcement disregarded a crucial piece of evidence.
Mark Williams-Thomas has raised concerns about the Spanish authorities’ failure to look into an audio recording that he had offered to provide, which could potentially have provided insights into the disappearance of the young British man.
In a surprising video clip lasting six minutes, posted on X/Twitter last Friday, Mr. Williams-Thomas shared details of the challenges he encountered while trying to cooperate with the authorities in Tenerife.
‘I sent the information I had in an email to Spanish authorities.’ the ex-detective said.
‘I told them I wasn’t able to share the audio recording at this point because I needed to explain to them how I had obtained it and also I was very conscious that it was highly sensitive and I didn’t want it just being shared all around.
‘They’ve never come back to me,’ he added.
Suggesting a reason why Spanish cops allegedly did not work with him, Mr Williams-Thomas said that authorities in some countries, such as ‘Spain and France and Portugal’, ‘really don’t like working with the public to get information, they think they always know the answers’.
‘British police are very different,’ he added. ‘Very good relationship with British police forces when I do investigations on cases here. More often than not, they work with me.’
The caption of his revelatory post on X reads: ‘Certain cases attract huge media attention and the landscape is so different now with social media and the internet.
‘What is always key for me is the end game, “JUSTICE” (which takes many forms), which is why I always work with the authorities.
‘However some authorities and countries are open to receiving information better than others.’
His bombshell claims come as an inquest into Mr Slater’s death was launched at Preston Crown Court this month.
The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, disappeared in Tenerife last summer sparking a major manhunt before he was found dead about a month later.
But the inquest was halted on Wednesday after Mr Slater’s mother, Debbie Duncan, 55, made an emotional plea to judges after the two key witnesses failed to attend and were unable to be contacted.
Lancashire Police have now admitted they are unable to bring back witnesses – some of whom have left the country.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police told MailOnline: ‘First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Jay’s family and friends at this distressing time.
‘We supported HM Coroner by making extensive efforts to contact a number of witnesses ahead of the inquest, both in Lancashire and more widely. However we understand some of these individuals may be abroad and had already left the country when these efforts were made.’
They added: ‘We have no jurisdiction in such circumstances to compel someone to attend.
‘We will continue to support the coroner ahead of the resumption of the inquest. Once again, our thoughts are with Jay’s loved ones.’
Mr Slater was on holiday on the island and had been to the NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo nightclub in Playa de las Americas on June 16 last year.
Early the next day, Mr Slater is thought to have gone to an Airbnb with other people he had met while on holiday, then vanished and was reported missing on June 18.
His body was found in a steep and inaccessible area by a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard near the village of Masca on July 15, 2024 – and an inquest at Preston Coroner’s Court heard he was found to have had drugs in his system.
The hearing was told extensive efforts including summonses had been issued for several witnesses who were in contact with Mr Slater before he disappeared.
But the inquest was adjourned after the teenager’s mother pleaded for it to be halted until they could find the missing witnesses.
They include the two British men who rented the AirBnb – convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim, 31, Steven Roccas, previously known as ‘Rocky’, Lucy Law, who is reportedly in Tenerife, Brandon Hodges and Bradley Geoghegan, who also uses the surname Hargreaves.
On Wednesday, Ms Duncan told Lancashire senior coroner Dr James Adeley: ‘How can we ever get any understanding? We know he died, he had an accident.’
Sobbing, she added: ‘There’s things that we want to question. We want these people to be sat in front of us. Something went wrong that day, he didn’t come back. There’s questions we need to ask – please.’
The coroner agreed to pause proceedings so she could compose herself. He later adjourned it altogether so his staff could make further efforts to find Mr Qassim and Mr Roccas, but warned the family he was ‘not confident of success’.
Dr Adeley told Mr Slater’s family: ‘You’ve heard of our difficulties in finding Ayub Qassim and Steven Roccas. However in view of your distress we will make an effort to find them.’
The coroner said those of Mr Slater’s friends who are currently abroad would also be provided with new summonses to attend the resumed hearing.
He asked the family to pass his office any contact details which they had for them – and the hearing would reconvene at a date to be fixed.
Earlier, the inquest was told Mr Slater had traces of cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine in his body when he was found dead – and had been ‘off his head on drugs’.
The hearing was also told that his friends had failed to attend to give their accounts.
Lucy Law – who received a call from the Mr Slater saying he was lost, had one per cent charge on his phone and needed water – is among those who could not be traced to give evidence, the coroner revealed.
As proceedings began, Dr Adeley said police had failed in attempts to contact Ms Law and several of Mr Slater’s other British friends.
‘We can’t find them, they have stopped responding to phone calls,’ he said while Mr Slater’s parents Ms Duncan and father Warren Slater, 58, listened in silence.
This is a breaking news story. More updates to follow.
