New mystery as Jay Slater’s friend claims teen met two mystery men DAYS before staying overnight at Airbnb and disappearing

JAY Slater met two mystery Brits days before partying with them both at an Airbnb and disappearing, his friend claimed.

The two men were the last people known to speak to the missing 19-year-old – but police said they were “not relevant” to the investigation.

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Jay’s close friend Brad Hargreaves spoke to ITV’s This Morning about the pair who disappeared from Tenerife and returned to the UK.

The pair are believed to have known Jay up until three days before June 17, when he disappeared, Brad told reporter Isla Traquair on the island.

Reports initially suggested that Jay had just met the men on Sunday night.

Isla made a follow-up report on TikTok about her findings, where she talked about the two mystery men, recalling what Brad had told her.

The TV police reporter said: “The two men he went to stay with, he met them three days before.

“It wasn’t two random people he met that night. They struck up a friendship and Brad said they seemed like really nice guys.”

Brad was on vacation with Jay and his other friend Lucy Law for the three-day New Rave Generation music festival.

Lucy, who first reported the teenager missing, has yet to speak out about the mysterious pair.

After attending a rave on Sunday night, apprentice bricklayer Jay went to Masca with the two men.

He shared a final Airbnb Snapchat of a hand holding a cigarette at 7:30 am.

He was holding a colorful blanket that Brad says was given to Jay by the men.

Jay then tried to get back to his holiday accommodation – an 11 hour walk away.

During the walk, Jay made two calls to the police – one to Brad and one to Lucy.

Brad started the last conversation – saying that Jay wasn’t initially worried about returning to his accommodation.

But after a few minutes on the phone, he told This Morning he could hear Jay’s feet sliding on the rocks, signaling he had left the road.

Brad said, “That’s how I knew he went off the road because, you know, when you walk on gravel, or whatever it is, you can… you know what I mean, rocks.”

Come as…

He admitted, however, that he wasn’t worried at that point, as Jay assured him he was fine – but told his friend to report his location.

Brad added: “We were both laughing about it. He said, ‘look where I am’.”

He said Jay hung up because he had another call waiting – but promised to call back.

Jay is then believed to have had a conversation with Lucy, where his attitude towards the situation is said to have worsened.

The teenager complained that he needed some water in the heat before his phone ran out of battery – sending Lucy into a panic.

It’s still unclear why Jay didn’t wait at the Airbnb cottage to ask his new friends for help or supplies.

Police update on missing duo

The latest twist comes just days after private investigator Mark Williams-Thomas called the men “key witnesses” in the case.

The men were asked to speak briefly to police before being allowed to fly home to the UK.

Neither of the men has been spoken to since, Mark claims.

This resulted in questions as to why the pair were not asked to help with investigations as time ran out.

Cipriano Martin, head of the Civil Guard’s Greim mountain rescue unit, was asked about the two mystery men who partied with the teenager the night he disappeared.

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Martin said the pair had no relevance to Jay’s disappearance.

He said: “We are mountain experts and we are in charge of searching here, and it is the Civil Guard investigators who are responsible for the investigation.

“These men have been questioned and have no relevance to the case.”

But former detective Mark – who worked on the Madeleine McCann case – claims to have cracked the mystery and feels the pair could help.

They are both said to be in their 30s and 40s and from Luton, Bedfordshire, with one known by the nickname “Johnny Vegas”.

Neither of them are believed to have been to the NRG music festival, where Jay spent the day partying before disappearing.

“The family is desperate for these men to come forward as witnesses. Right now, they’re not helping,” Mark added.

“The group sat on the wall outside the club after the night was over. Witnesses say he seemed quite in control.

“What we don’t know is why he went with them.”

‘Massive’ research underway

Tenerfife police officers launched a major search operation on Saturday to find the British man who has been missing for two weeks.

The search for Jay’s disappearance reached an all-or-nothing point this weekend, with law enforcement officials requesting help from experienced explorers and climbers as they search the mountains where Jay may have become lost.

However, only six volunteers showed up, said Tiktoker Paul Arnott, 29, who flew in to help with the search.

Jay’s father Warren and older brother Zak were spotted on the search site.

Warren spoke on the mountain saying: “It’s a bit disappointing that there are no Brits other than Paul, but I suppose to them he’s just a British lad who came here and got drunk.

“I’m grateful to all those who came here because you can see how dangerous it is and what bothers me are the trollers who are attacking us for not looking.

“It’s not the local park, it’s big mountains, the terrain is dangerous, put yourself in our position, would you go out in those conditions?

“It’s difficult, it’s difficult, we’re leaving it to the professionals and I’m grateful to those who came today and I want to thank them for what they’re doing.”

Although the police launched a huge appeal for specialist volunteers, it is not known why the call for help was not answered by more people.

Spanish police officers also refused help from their British counterparts as they insisted they had all the necessary resources last week.

A source told The Sun: “There is a feeling this weekend will be absolutely pivotal. A huge amount of resources and efforts are being accumulated over the next 48 hours.

“It’s not all or nothing, but investigators sincerely hope this weekend provides the breakthrough they hope for.”

Police officers also announced that they were opening questioning over the theft of a Rolex watch just hours before Jay’s disappearance.

Taxi drivers and bar staff who worked near the Papagayo Beach Club on June 17 will be questioned by investigators after a fight allegedly broke out on the Tenerife strip.

Jay was seen partying at the busy venue just before it closed.

It is unclear exactly how Jay’s disappearance could be linked to the incident – but officers are examining CCTV footage from security cameras.

And now officers are hoping to speak to new witnesses who may have seen the fight unfold – and have information about Jay.

A source in Tenerife told The Sun: “Any leads at this time that could provide information about where Jay is will be looked into.”

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