Jay Slater case 'very bizarre' and 'lots of things don't add up' says ex cop

A former Metropolitan Police Officer has voiced his concerns over the mysterious disappearance of Jay Slater in Tenerife, saying the case is "certainly a very bizarre one" and that "lots of things just don't add up".

The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, disappeared after setting off to walk back to his accommodation on the holiday island on June 17. Helicopters, drones and search dogs were deployed to find the apprentice bricklayer until the search operation was "finished" on Sunday by the Guardia Civil.

Jay had attended the NRG music festival with two friends before his disappearance, and his last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island – which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation. He had travelled to an Airbnb in Masca and the two men said to have rented the property were later ruled “not relevant” to the case.

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Retired Scotland Yard officer, Graham Wettone, who has experience in numerous missing persons cases, has urged Spanish authorities to accept assistance from British Police. In an interview with MailOnline, Mr Wettone said: ''I've been following this case closely and discussing it with colleagues and it's certainly a very bizarre one, lots of things just don't add up.

''I'm sure the Spanish police kept their details and if need be can go back to them and investigate them with the help of British police. That's why I would start again from the beginning and speak to all the witnesses again, my gut feeling is that many of them may not be telling the truth.''

A Guardia Civil spokesperson reportedly said on Sunday: “The search operation has now finished, although the case remains open.” Jay's family and friends have vowed to stay in Tenerife to continue to look for him and the GoFundMe appeal Get Jay Slater Home, which was set up by his friend Lucy Law, and now raised nearly £50,000.

The Civil Guard said that officers would continue to act on any tip-offs or other information received, but the active work that has been ongoing for two weeks when Jay reported missing has now ceased.

The ex-Met Police Officer added: ''There are so many inconsistencies in what I am seeing and reading. I think the Spanish police need to take a step back and think 'Why did he go missing where he did and in what circumstances?'

''They seem to be focusing primarily on the fact that they were told he wandered off into the mountain, but we are now almost two weeks in, and nothing has been found up there. 'I would hope that they have at least secured the Airbnb because if evidence is there then it will need to be gathered.

''But to be honest, I would even go back further to the days leading up to his disappearance, have they checked his bank accounts for anything untoward in the hours before he went missing.''

He told MailOnline that other things that do not add up including why he went off with the two men and why hasn't he been found if he is young and fit. Graham suggested Spanish police should look at other avenues, including criminality, in their investigation.