TV investigator and former police officer offers to join search for Jay Slater

An investigator and former police officer says he has offered to help in the search for missing teenager Jay Slater.

Mark Williams-Thomas took to social media to say he had reached out to Jay's mum, Debbie Duncan, to offer the help of his team to get answers in the search for Jay.

Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, has now been missing for a week on the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife, having last been heard from on Monday morning (June 17).

MORE: Live updates as search continues for Jay Slater in Tenerife

He disappeared following an attempt to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus.

Before his disappearance, he had attended the NRG music festival on the island with two friends.

Writing on X/Twitter, Mr Williams-Thomas said yesterday: "I have this morning reached out to missing Jay Slater's mum offering the help of my team to get her answers as to what has happened to Jay.

"Lots of speculation about what could have happened and if they give me total access and with feet on the ground, I will be able to say if his disappearance is him alone of it it has third-party involvement."

Mr Williams-Thomas is best known for 'exposing' Jimmy Savile after the infamous television presenter's death, and for last year making a film where he interviewed Michelle Mone about the PPE Medpro scandal. He also probed the Nicola Bulley case, when the Lancashire mum went missing in January 2023 before being found drowned.

In an update this morning (June 24) he added that while Jay's family had switched off their phones, he had received a response from a 'close relative' saying Jay's mum was keen to accept the help.

Back at home, blue ribbons have been popping up around Oswaldtwistle all this week and the church was adorned with the ribbons. People have been showing support to family and friends who are overseas searching for Jay, by ‘turning the streets blue’.

At the West End Methodist Church on Blackburn Road, worshippers gathered for the traditional Sunday morning service.

Prayers were said that Jay may be found and that ‘he may come home’. There were also words of support for his worried family and friends.

Speaking on Sunday, The Reverend Matt Smith said: “For us the church is always our focus in the sense of our prayer and the community.

“We are there for the community whenever they need us and this week has been one of those times where actually the community did need us.

“We were able to support them in that time, to give an opportunity to come and to pray.

“And to share their message of support and wish that Jay does come home.

“We have also shared our support for the family, as they are going through a horrible time.”