The search for missing British teenager Jay Slater, a 19-year-old bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, has entered its fourth day in Tenerife. Jay was last seen on Monday morning, following his attendance at the NRG music festival in south Tenerife. He was reported missing after a distressing phone call to his best friend, Lucy Law.
Jay was last seen getting into a car with two people he met on Sunday night. It is believed they traveled to a property in Rural de Teno Park, a 40-minute drive from where Jay was staying in Playa de las Americas.
Adding complexity to the case, Jay Slater was previously sentenced for his involvement in a violent attack in August 2021. Jay, along with seven other teenagers, attacked Tom Hilton with a machete, axe, and golf club near the Old Paper Mill in Hermitage Street, Rishton. Hilton, who was 17 at the time, suffered severe injuries, including a head wound that exposed his skull and cuts to his shoulders and legs.
Preston Crown Court heard that the attack occurred when Hilton went to the mill, a popular meeting place for teens, and was chased by the group. The gang caught up with him, attacking him with weapons and fists. The judge noted that the group acted together and displayed a lack of remorse during the trial.
Jay Slater, 18 at the time, received an 18-month community order with 25 days of rehabilitation activities and 150 hours of unpaid work for his role in the attack. The violent past of Jay Slater has surfaced amid the current search efforts, adding a layer of complexity and concern.