A TOP Jay Slater investigator has claimed he has an audio recording key to the young Brit’s disappearance after accusing Spanish cops of ignoring evidence.

Mark Williams-Thomas – who worked on the Madeleine McCann case – conducted his own investigation after the 19-year-old went missing on the island of Tenerife in June last year.

Jay Slater, 19, died while on holiday in Tenerife
Credit: Louis Wood

Jay pictured with mum Debbie Duncan
Credit: Ian Whittaker

Mark Williams-Thomas – who worked on the Madeleine McCann case – conducted his ‘own investigation’ into Jay’s disappearance
Credit: Twitter
The detective accused Spanish police of failing to investigate a key piece of evidence he had in his possession as he posted a seven-minute video on X.

Mr Williams-Thomas claimed the evidence – an audio clip – could have helped shed light on Jay’s mysterious disappearance before he was tragically found dead.

The ex-cop claimed he told the Spanish investigators about the audio clip, but they “never came back” to him.

He made the revelations as the Jay case was reignited after a near-farcical inquest this week at Preston Coroner’s Court.

Key witnesses – including Jay’s two friends Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves – who were with him the night before he vanished failed to appear.

The probe was adjourned as Jay’s brave mum Debbie Duncan made a desperate appeal for them to come forward.

Mr Williams-Thomas – who flew to Tenerife last year to help hunt for Jay – hit out at the Spanish authorities and said he still sitting on a trove of evidence, including interviews with witnesses.

He offered to help both authorities in the UK and Spain to offer closure to Jay’s heartbroken family.
‘Missing’ Jay Slater witness Lucy Law, 20, is on holiday in Tenerife where teen died, family reveals after inquest farce
Mr Williams-Thomas said: “I sent the information I had in an email to Spanish authorities.

“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.”

Mr Williams-Thomas revealed why he thinks the Spanish authorities ignored his tip during the search for Jay.

He said: “[Some countries] really don’t like working with the public to get information, they think they always know the answers.”

Apprentice bricklayer Jay travelled to the Spanish island in June to attend the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas with pals Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves.

The teen travelled to an Airbnb apartment in Masca with two men in the early hours of June 17, before leaving at around am.

Jay, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancs, made a heartbreaking final call to his friend Lucy saying he had cut his leg, was lost, dehydrated and had just one per cent battery on his phone after he left the Airbnb.

The inquest heard from three construction workers who said, via video link, they saw Jay on the main road through the remote village of Masca and he asked them about bus times.

He was attempting the treacherous 10-hour walk back to his apartment in Los Cristianos when he called Lucy to say he was lost.

DCI Rachel Higson, head of digital media investigations at Lancashire Police, told the hearing that Jay’s phone recorded “a lot of steps and inclines” between 7.59am and .49am.

His mobile last pinged in the mountainous Rural de Teno Park after Jay walked the wrong way from the Airbnb, and DCI Higson said there was “no data recorded” after .49:51am.

The Airbnb Jay went to hours before he vanished

Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan pictured outside Preston Coroner’s Court
Credit: STEVE ALLEN

Dad Warren Slater and brother Zak outside court
Credit: STEVE ALLEN
After a month-long search, Jay’s body was found in a ravine on July 15 last year – near to where his phone last pinged.

A post-mortem examination concluded he died of traumatic head injuries, consistent with a fall from height.

Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd told the inquest Jay suffered a “heavy fall from height” and the “devastating” effects would have been “immediate”.

On Wednesday night, Lucy’s family revealed she was simply on holiday on the very same island where Jay died.

They claimed she was also unaware that she had been called to give evidence at the inquest.

Speaking at the family home in Burnley, Lucy’s stepfather Andy Davis said: “We had no idea Jay’s inquest was even being held today.

“The police have only just been round today to say that she was due to give evidence. But it’s the first time we knew of it.”

He added: “They asked if Lucy was home and I said she was abroad and they asked me if I was aware that she should have been in court, and I said I wasn’t.”

“The police said they had sent Lucy paperwork with the dates on it, but the first I knew about it was when the police turned up earlier today.”

Sources in the Slater family later said they were aware where the other missing witnesses were, and had also been able to find them easily, according to the

But for his devastated family, it didn’t bring the closure they so desperately needed.

Now almost a year on, his grief-stricken mum, dad and brother have been subjected to yet more torment as an inquest into his death dredged up painful details of his disappearance – while lacking any actual answers.

Jay’s courageous mum Debbie Duncan opened up to me just weeks after his body was found about how she was tortured by not knowing what happened to her beloved son before he fell to his death.

I was humbled by the bravery she showed in the face of living every parent’s worst nightmare on the world stage – relentlessly hounded by mindless trolls.

Spineless witnesses failing to turn up to the hearing to provide crucial information is a kick in the teeth for Debbie and his already suffering family.

The 19-year-old went missing 11 months ago, and his body tragically discovered 29 days later.

So why after all these months has the court failed to bring together vital witnesses – including the two friends he was on holiday with?

After months and months of battling through their grief, the last thing Jay’s family needed was to face a farce of a hearing without the necessary witnesses.

Jay’s devastated mum Debbie beside his grave
Credit: Louis Wood

Flowers left by Jay’s family near to where he fell to his death