I was ex-cop who investigated Jay Slater's death - here's what the inquest didn't tell you

An ex-police officer who investigated the disappearance of Jay Slater has slammed the "disappointing" inquest and revealed what it didn't touch on. Mark Williams-Thomas said he'd "kept quiet on the evidence that I have" to allow for the proper legal process, but now felt compelled to come forward. The investigative journalist wrote on X: "The formal inquest opened yesterday at Preston Crown Court into the death of Jay Slater.

"I put a hold on my podcast because I felt it right that the formal police process should be allowed to be concluded first and as such have remained quiet on the evidence I have. But hearing how disappointing the inquest was yesterday, I have decided to speak out on a number of points."

Witness Josh Forshaw said Jay sent him a picture of himself with "knives down his trousers" shortly before his death, with the caption, "in case it kicks off".

Josh didn't tell the police in Spain, but informed Lancashire Police when he returned home.

Williams-Thomas revealed that the knives in the picture, taken on the steps of the Airbnb Jay went to after the NRG music festival, never left the property.

He said: "I can confirm that, although Jay was pictured with two knives at his waist when he stood on the steps of that rental, the knives, as I'm told, were not found with him.

"And crucially, the knives, I'm told, were still in that apartment, so they didn't leave that property when he left."

Coroner Dr James Adeley said police have looked for Jay's friends, Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves, but they have not been found.

Lucy, who is in Tenerife now, was reportedly the one who received a call from the 19-year-old last June saying he was lost, had 1% charge on his phone and needed water.

Williams-Thomas said he has "many recordings" of his conversations with the 20-year-old, who "fully cooperated right from the very beginning".

The ex-police officer said she helped him "piece together the events" of the evening before and morning of Jay's disappearance. After the NRG music festival, the 19-year-old split from his friends and went back to an Airbnb in Masca.

In the early hours of the morning, he attempted the 10-hour walk back to his accommodation, but went missing along the way. He was found dead in a ravine nearly a month later.

Convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim was one of two men whose Airbnb Jay went to after the music festival, and is still to be located despite the coroner’s office's attempts to find him.

Williams-Thomas called him "the most important witness" and claimed he holds some "very crucial evidence" that no one else knows about.

He said: "It's from Ayub that I have some very crucial evidence that has not yet been made public and does provide, I believe, greater context as to why Jay left that property on that morning and made the decision to walk."

Williams-Thomas claimed the Spanish police, who led the investigation into Jay's disappearance, did not respond to his offer of sharing the evidence he collected during his own search.

He said: "At the time, I offered all my evidence to the Spanish police, but they never responded. I remain happy to share everything I have with them. Equally, I'm happy to share all my information with Lancashire Police."

The investigative journalist slammed "how poor the police investigation has been" and suggested it was not thorough enough.