Jay Slater's drug dealer pal finally reveals bombshell truth about 'stolen' £12,000 Rolex
A convicted drug dealer who offered Jay Slate r a place to stay the night before he vanished has finally turned up to give evidence at the tragic teen's inquest.
Ayub Qassim extended an invitation for Jay to return to his rented Airbnb in the Tenerife mountain village of Masca on the evening before he disappeared. The 31-year-old, who also goes by "Johnny Vegas" is giving evidence via video link at today's hearing, having failed to turn up at the start of the inquest in May.
And now Qassim has shared a major update in the mystery surrounding the allegedly stolen Rolex watch that Jay bragged about to his friend, as he told the coroner: "Jay did not steal no watch".
The pal said that the night before Jay disappeared, the group they were both with went to get food around 6am following a night of partying.
Jay asked Quassim if he could stay with him at his place, because everyone else had left. His flat, in Masca, was around a 40-minute drive from the strip, something his friends jokingly complained about, the inquest heard.
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Qassim says he agreed to take Jay and offered to drop him off in the morning. But before they left, Qassim says he saw a Romanian man on the strip "take a watch off some other guy, some randomer" before offering it to Qassim and Slater, which he wasn't interested in.
"Whether he gave it to Jay or not, I don't know, but it was a fake watch," Quassim told the court. "One thing I can say is: Jay did not steal no watch."
After Quassim's evidence, the court was shown a Snapchat picture sent by Jay. It's understood to have been taken on June 17 at around 5.50am.
It showed a blurry picture of the teen in a car, wearing sunglasses. The caption of the picture says: "Yes cuz ended up getting thrown out of there me with 2 maili kids just took an AP [expensive watch] off some c*** on way to sell it for 10 quid."
In an earlier message, Jay had claimed the 'watch' had been a Rolex. AP refers to Audemars Piguet, an expensive watch designer.
At the inquest, coroner Dr James Adeley asked Quassim "Do you have any explanation as to why this was posted?" and he said: "No. He could be boasting to his friends, you can tell he's on the buzz. It could be that. When we were all younger, we might over-exaggerate."
At an earlier hearing in May, Jay's friend and witness Josh Forshaw gave evidence on the messages, and claimed Jay was planning to sell the strap for "10 quid" - a slang term for £10,000. The whereabouts of the Rolex is still unknown, as it was never found.
Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, went missing In Tenerife last summer and after a search that lasted several weeks, his body was discovered in a remote ravine.
The 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer had been partying at NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo nightclub in the resort of Playa de las Americas and is believed to have ended up at a holiday rental apartment in the early hours of June 17.
Evidence suggests he left the flat hours later, attempted to walk back to his own apartment and tragically fell into a ravine.
A huge search operation was launched before his body was found in a steep and inaccessible area by a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard near the village of Masca on July 15.
But a number of witnesses who were with him on the night he disappeared or at the rental apartment did not attend the inquest when it started at Preston Coroner's Court in May. The court heard they could not be traced or were unavailable, despite extensive efforts to get them to come as witnesses.
Debbie Duncan, Mr Slater's mother, tearfully asked the coroner to adjourn as the family still had questions for the last people to see him alive. Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, agreed to adjourn to Thursday July 24 to make a final attempt to trace the witnesses.
Jay's friend Lucy Law, who is giving evidence at today's inquest via video link, was the first to sound the alarm when Jay vanished. The pair were mates prior to the getaway and both hail from Lancashire.
In the immediate aftermath of his disappearance, she spearheaded initial search operations and provided support to the teenager's relatives upon their arrival. She was absent from the initial inquest into his death, with her family explaining she was overseas and unaware the hearing was scheduled.
Meanwhile, another pal, Bradley Hargreaves, has given evidence at today's hearing in person after missing the inquest when it started. He also made the journey from Lancashire to Tenerife with Jay. He possessed knowledge of Jay's final whereabouts after receiving the location from the lad himself.
Steven 'Rocky' Roccas, who was staying with Mr Qassim at the Masca Airbnb, remains shrouded in mystery as little is known about him. Met Police officers attempted to deliver a witness summons to his London address, only to discover he had moved on.
The hearing in May heard from witnesses including toxicology expert Dr Stephanie Martin. The court heard that analysis showed traces of drugs – including cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy – and alcohol in Mr Slater's body.
Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said his post-mortem examination gave cause of death as head injuries and Mr Slater's body showed no evidence of restraint or assault, with the pattern of injuries consistent with a fall from height.
Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Higson, from Lancashire Constabulary, said police had analysed Mr Slater's phone data. On the night out he had received phone messages from friends telling him to go home as he was "off his head".
Phone location data suggested he travelled to the holiday flat then left the property at around 7.45am the next day. Statements from local Spanish witnesses said they were approached and asked by Mr Slater about buses or taxis to take him home.
More messages from friends warned him about the "boiling" heat of the day but activity data on his phone stopped at 8.51am, suggesting the battery had died.
Marieke Krans from Dutch rescue charity Signi Zoekhonden helped in the search. She said the area where the body was found was about a three and a half-hour walk from the holiday apartment and was "really steep, really dangerous", and it was "easy" to lose your footing.
The coroner told the hearing that one explanation for Mr Slater's death could be "he has walked into the middle of nowhere and fallen off a cliff".
The inquest is scheduled to conclude on Friday.
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Western Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Crash killer, sex offenders, and drug dealers jailed in July
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He pleaded guilty to two offences of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity, making a Category C indecent images, and breaching of a sexual harm prevention order. 41-year-old Hughes was jailed for two years, must register as a sex offender for 10 years, and was made the subject of a new sexual harm prevention order for the same period. Tymon Turner Tymon Turner drunk and took drugs at an all-night rave before killing his friend in a crash. (Image: Gwent Police) Tymon Turner, from Aberaeron, killed his friend in a crash after he spent the night drinking and taking drugs at a rave. Turner caused the death of 19-year-old Jac Walters in a crash on the A4136 Staunton Road in Monmouth on Sunday, November 12 last year. Turner, who was 19 at the time, drove Mr Walters and another friend – who was 18 – from west Wales to the event in the Forest of Dean area. The group arrived at just after midnight on November 12, and partied through the night, drinking and taking drugs. When morning came around, Turner was 'stumbling around' and they headed back to the car to sober up. Mr Walters took the defendant's car keys to prevent him from driving, and both passengers said Turner was 'being f***ing stupid' thinking he was okay to drive. Turner was 'adamant' he could drive though, and they set off to get food in Bristol at just before midday. However, Turner 'failed to take a right-hand bend correctly', overcorrected, and hit the banking at the side of the road, causing the car to flip. When the car came to a halt, Mr Walters was unresponsive in the back. Emergency services arrived at the scene at just after midday, and Turner was arrested. Officers noted he smelled of alcohol and his eyes were red and slightly glazed. He was breathalysed and took a roadside drugs test, and both were positive. A search of the car also found a bag containing 0.45 grams of cocaine. During this time, the police were told that Mr Walters had died. After Turner was further arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, he said: 'My friend is dead. I just killed my friend'. At the police station, Turner recorded 55 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – almost twice the legal limit – and blood tests revealed ketamine and MDMA in his system. He pleaded guilty to three offences of causing death by careless driving whilst being over the prescribed limit – referring to alcohol, ketamine, and MDMA. He also admitted possession of the cocaine. Turner, now 21, of Prince's Avenue, was sentenced to four years and eight months detention in a Young Offender Institution. He has been banned from driving for a total of seven years and four months, and must pass an extended re-test to regain his licence. A 49-year-old from Pembroke A 49-year-old Pembroke man has been jailed for sexually abusing his step-daughter. Swansea Crown Court heard the man – who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the victim – had been giving his step-daughter cocaine 'three to four times a week' in mid-2021. He also sent her a picture of himself naked. The defendant, then aged 45, and the girl, aged 17 at the time, were taking cocaine together on June 5, 2021. Despite the victim protesting and trying to push him away, the man took her clothes off, sexually assaulted her, and then masturbated. The court heard the defendant replied 'Sorry x' when the victim messaged him about the incident. The victim disclosed what happened to her partner on June 10, but the police weren't contacted until she told family members in January this year. The defendant was arrested shortly afterwards. The defendant initially denied the offences, but on the day of trial pleaded guilty to two offences of sexual activity with a child. He was jailed for six years and four months, must register as a sex offender for life, and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely. Peter Edgar Banned driver Peter Edgar was more than four times over the drink-drive limit. (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police) Disqualified driver Peter Edgar was more than four times over the drink-drive limit when 'quick thinking' members of the public took his keys out the ignition. Swansea Crown Court heard it was 'a miracle' that Edgar didn't hit anyone as he drove dangerously between Haverfordwest and Newgale on June 18. Shortly after 8pm, a couple were driving along Thomas Parry Way when they saw a white van which was being driven by Edgar. His driving was described as 'wobbly, turned erratic' by another witness. 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Checks also revealed he was disqualified from driving, meaning he also had no insurance. The 39-year-old, of Chestnut Way in Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, drink-driving, and driving without insurance. Edgar was jailed for a total of 14 months. He was banned from driving for four years and seven months, and must pass an extended re-test to regain his licence. Justin Cadwell Justin Cadwell went back to dealing after he was caught taking drugs to sell at a festival. (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police) Drug dealer Justin Cadwell, from Hakin, was caught with thousands of pounds worth of cannabis and nitrous oxide to sell at a festival in Hampshire. Police stopped a vehicle on the A31 at Winchester on August 8 last year after receiving intelligence it was involved in supplying drugs. Cadwell was the passenger seat, and told police his sister – who was driving – was not involved. Upon searching the vehicle, officers found 44.363 grams of cannabis, nitrous oxide cannisters worth a total of £2,225, two packages of ketamine totalling 15.11g, 12.4g of MDMA, and another two small quantities of cannabis. Drug-related messages were found on the defendant's phone going back to December 2 the previous year, and 53.25g of cannabis, 450g of cannabis resin, 29.8g of cocaine, and £25,307.85 in cash were found at his home. He was bailed, and when this lapsed he was released under investigation. Cadwell was caught dealing closer to home after he was knocked unconscious in an e-bike crash at Hakin Point in Milford Haven at around 7pm on March 1. Paramedics cut off Cadwell's jacket to treat him, and white powder spilled out. He was found in possession of 10.21g of cocaine and 60g of cannabis, as well as £588.03 in cash. Cadwell refused to take a drugs test, and claimed the drugs were for personal use and the cash was a loan from his dad. 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Daniel Lewis Daniel Lewis showed up at his ex-wife's house and assaulted her and her sister. Lewis called his ex-wife several times on the evening of March 26 whilst she was at home in Llanelli with her sister and sister-in-law, but she didn't answer. At around 8pm, Lewis 'burst in' through the door saying he was 'going to take jaws off'. He grabbed his ex-wife by the hair and threw her to the ground with such force that he pulled the hair extensions from her head. Whilst she was on the ground, Lewis 'started to punch and smack her entire body'. The victim got free and ran for the kitchen, but Lewis grabbed her hair and threw her to the floor again. He then assaulted her again when she tried to escape to the living room. The victim's sister stepped in to try and protect her, but this resulted in the defendant injuring her wrist. The women managed to force Lewis out of the property – and he damaged the fence with his bodyweight. 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Charlotte Cotterrell Charlotte Cotterrell has been jailed for breaching a restraining order. (Image: South Wales Police) Charlotte Cotterrell, 26, of Brynawel in Pontardawe, was jailed after ignoring a court order to stay away from her now ex-partner after she attacked him last year. Cotterrell was sentenced to 18 months, suspended for 18 months, in September 2024 for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating against her partner. As part of this, she was made the subject of a three-year restraining order, which barred her from contacting him again. The man and his partner were walking in Pontardawe at around 3.45pm on February 13 when a green vehicle went past and they heard a woman's voice shouting 'f***ing d*******s'. When they looked at the car, they saw Cotterrell 'leaning out of the window' of the passenger door. The man said this made him feel 'uncomfortable and scared' about what Cotterrell would do next, and he reported her to the police on February 17. 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Cotterrell was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment for the restraining order breach. 14 months were activated of her 18-month suspended sentence, to run consecutively, as well as one month of the two-month suspended sentence. The restraining order was extended by two years. Graham Potter Graham Potter has been jailed after ignoring a restraining order for the fourth time when he was found with her at a hotel. Potter was made the subject of a two-year restraining order by Swansea Crown Court on January 2 last year after he attacked his partner whilst drunk. The judge labelled him a 'nasty bully' after hearing that he grabbed the victim – who he was in a long-term on-off relationship with – by the arm and punched her in the mouth, all whilst being verbally abusive. In addition to the restraining order, Potter was jailed for 24 weeks. Under the terms of the order, Potter was not allowed to contact the victim. 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Hill pleaded guilty to all three offences at Llanelli Magistrates' Court on July 24. The court heard Hill was subject to a community order at the time, which had been made by the court in Llanelli last November 8. On that occasion, she was sentenced for eight offences of shoplifting after she stole items totalling £243.45 from Co-op in Carmarthen between April 22 and September 8 last year. Hill was sentenced for a total of 36 weeks, suspended for 18 months. These included 18 weeks for the latest offences and being resentenced to 18 weeks for her previous offences. She must complete a six-month drug rehabilitation order and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days. The defendant must pay £85 in court costs and a total of £196.48 in compensation to the shops.
Glasgow Times
7 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Rescuers recover bodies of four Chilean miners who were trapped in collapse
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Powys County Times
8 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Phillips hits out at Farage over children's safety online
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