A TV detective, who investigated the disappearance of Oswaldtwistle teenager Jay Slater, has broken his social media silence to issue an update.

Mark Williams-Thomas, who flew out to Tenerife to search for Jay over the summer, said he is back on social media after taking a break. Mark said he could reveal more details about the investigation he carried out “when the time is right”.

Jay’s body was found on July 15 and a post-mortem examination found he died of traumatic head injuries, consistent with a fall from height.

The report also highlighted the apprentice bricklayer’s death was instantaneous.

Mark said he was “clear from day one” that this looked like a tragic accident but said he remained “open-minded” throughout the investigation. As a result, before Jay’s body was found, he said a “criminal network”  with “links to drugs, theft and violent crime” was being considered and mentioned details about a “£12,000 watch that was taken”.

At the time, Mark, a former police officer, said Jay was “clearly worried about his own safety” after being driven to a holiday rental, Casa Abuela Tina in Masca, in the early hours of June 17, adding that he left the rental “in a rush” without charging his phone.

In a video, posted to X on Monday, October 14, Mark said: “I am now back on social media, I took a small break. One of the questions I got asked was an update in relation to Jay Slater.

“I was very clear from day one that this looked like a tragic accident but I needed to investigate it and I remained open-minded throughout that whole investigation.

“One of the interesting aspects is, as is always the case with any investigation, is you find out information and days later that information changes.

“The information that came to me in the early days wasn’t accurate and I needed to validate it.

“This was a case that hit headlines worldwide. People became fascinated and it took on a life of its own.

“There were a lot of conspiracy theories and people with their own views…  I was in the heart of it, able to establish information from different parties and look to see what evidential value it had.”

Mark, who looked into the disappearance of Lancashire mum Nicola Bulley, said he has not yet revealed all details about the case including “why Jay left in the manner he did”. He hinted that he may reveal these details at a later date.

He said: “I was clear that while there were considerable issues that existed, and I haven’t revealed the details of all those issues and why Jay left in the manner he did and why he didn’t want to return,

“Maybe, when the time is right, I will reveal those. I don’t want to upset the family [and give them] any more trauma that they’ve already had.

“Maybe the time will be right soon but not right now.”

In August, hundreds of people gathered at Accrington Cemetery and Crematorium to say farewell to Jay.

Around 500 people were either inside the chapel or outside watching the celebration of life service.