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JAY Slater’s mum insists claims her son stole a watch hours before he vanished in Tenerife are nothing more than callous rumours.
Debbie Duncan also rubbished vile claims Jay, 19, fell foul of a drug cartel on the island.
Jay, left, seen in a nightclub hours before he vanishedIan Whittaker
Ian Whittaker
Louis Wood
PH BUILDING GROUP/UNPIXSAfter Jay disappeared on June 17 – and even since his body was found 29 days later on July 15 – trolls have relentlessly targeted his grieving family.
Their suffering has also been made worse by sick ghouls who have peddled vicious claims on social media.
Brave Debbie told The Sun in an exclusive interview how the trolling started as soon as she arrived in Tenerife after Jay, 19, went missing on June 17.
Among the wild accusations were that Jay had stolen a £12,000 watch from a gangster during his fateful night out.
Cranks peddled false theories including that Jay had fallen foul of a drugs cartel and had taken a yacht to Morocco.
But Debbie, 56, told The Sun: “He would never have been involved in anything like that.
“He had only been in Tenerife three days – and was at a festival with friends which had wristbands, security and an itinerary.
“I’ve no idea where these drug stories have come from and the stuff about him stealing a watch is nonsense.”
Apprentice bricklayer Jay, 19, vanished on June 17 after a night out at with friends at a festival in Tenerife.
His remains were found in a ravine in the Rural de Teno park in Tenerife on July 15 after a four-week search.
Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of Jay, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancs at Accrington Crematorium on Saturday, August 10.
Funeral director Sarah Barton, who officiated the service, told the congregation how “Jay touched the lives of so many people”.
She also read out moving eulogies from three of Jay’s closest friends, including schoolmate James Curry who described the party-loving teen as “like a brother”.
He would never have been involved in anything like that
Debbie DuncanDebbie slammed trolls who have been hounding her family and spreading nasty comments and baseless claims on platforms such as TikTok and Facebook.
She added: “The people saying stuff about him didn’t know Jay and they don’t know us.
“He hasn’t been here to defend himself against all these horrible stories that were going on around the world about him.”
ANALYSIS: Tears and laughter - a beautiful end fo Jay's tragic story
By Katie Davis
IT was an emotional end to an extremely tragic story as Jay Slater was laid to rest on August 10.
Jay’s brave family did him proud as they put on a beautiful send-off for the 19-year-old.
Despite the rainy weather, hundreds of Jay’s loved ones gathered at Accrington Crematorium to say farewell to the beloved teen.
His heartbreaking disappearance captured the attention of millions around the world.
Both young and old followed updates every step of the way, and it was devastating when Jay’s body was found 29 days after he disappeared in Tenerife.
But it brought much-needed closure for his courageous mum Debbie, dad Warren and brother Zak who were forced to endure the cruel hounding of online trolls.
Debbie promised to give Jay the send-off he deserved, and I am sure everyone who attended would agree she did just that.
It was exceptionally moving to today stand outside the chapel in the sea of blue outfits, ribbons and flowers as his family and friends said goodbye.
Though many tears were shed, it was heartwarming to hear guests laugh as they watched videos of Jay dancing.
As his closest family and friends have said, Jay always had a smile on his face – and that’s how they want to remember him.
Doug Seeburg
Ian Whittaker
English (US)