Jay Slater’s mum shares son’s position in ‘machete assault’ as gang chased sufferer

Jay Slater’s mother has spoken out, claiming her son was “guilty by association” after he was convicted for an assault on Tom Hilton in 2021.

Despite not being involved in the attack that left the 17-year-old with a head wound, Jay faced conviction. Debbie Duncan urged her son Jay to approach Lancashire Police following the incident involving a large group of people. She recounted: “This one night there was an incident where there were probably a couple of hundred people there, a lad, who was older, got attacked by what he described as 20 kids.”

Debbie advised her son to give a statement, not anticipating the consequences. “They were appealing for witnesses, and I said to Jay, I think you should go and do a statement. I didn’t think anything of it, but the following April, a letter came through saying Jay was being charged with violent disorder.”

READ MORE: Jay Slater’s mum Debbie finally speaks out on Rolex and ‘drug’ rumours

Click for more of the latest news from across the world from the Daily Star.

“Jay attended the trial and Tom stood up in court and said he didn’t remember much about it. But Jay was kind of found guilty by association, and I don’t think he struck a blow or harmed Tom,” she told the Sun.

The case took a tragic turn when the teen went missing after attending the NRG musical festival and continuing his night with two Brits he met in the Canary Islands. After heading to their Airbnb in Masca on June 17, he disappeared, with his remains discovered a month later.

A UK post-mortem indicated he died from traumatic head injuries consistent with a fall.

Earlier it was revealed Jay Slater was about to return to the UK and sit his driving test before he vanished. The apprentice bricklayer had booked his practical after months of preparing for life on the road and his heartbroken mum Debbie Duncan says the confident teen had so much to live for.

She says he also had a career going in the right direction before his life was cut short during the trip earlier this summer.

Debbie, 56, said: “Jay was 19 with the world at his feet. He was coming back to a good job and was about to take his driving test. He was just a lovely boy with a massive personality and everybody just loved Jay being in his company – family, friends and work.”

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.