New £10k Reward In Damien Nettles Case

19 July 2013, 12:42 | Updated: 19 July 2013, 12:56

A mystery businessman has put up a £10,000 reward for information that leads to finding the body of missing Isle of Wight teenager Damien Nettles.

The 16-year-old went missing after a night out with friends in Cowes on the Isle of Wight in November 1996

Damien went out with a friend for the evening. But he never came back. Damien had gone into a shop in East Cowes with the friend before they went their separate ways at 10.30pm. He was seen on CCTV at Yorkies fish and chip shop in West Cowes at around 11:35pm.

But since that night of November 2, 1996, there has been no trace of Damien, whose family then lived in Woodvale Road, Gurnard. They have since moved to Texas in the USA, but continue to actively appeal for information about their son.

Eight people were arrested on suspicion of murdering Damien in 2011, but they were all later released with no further action.

Damien's mother Valerie has said she believes her son was killed by a drugs gang.

 
In response to the latest reward, Hampshire Police said:
 
"We always appreciate every single sincere thought and effort to help the police in any investigation.
 
"However, we must remain mindful that the 30 pieces of information received in response to a £20,000 police reward only repeated previous unfounded speculation, contained factually inaccurate details, or fell short of police standards for a reliable source.
 
"As a result, Hampshire Constabulary took the difficult decision not to extend our reward offer beyond six months in April 2013."

Police are reviewing all the information in the case - read the full background here:

http://www.hampshire.police.uk/internet/news-and-appeals/casebook/casebook-damien-nettles
 
Anyone with information about the Damien Nettles case can contact Hampshire Constabulary by phoning 101 or emailing operation.ridgewood@hampshire.pnn.police.uk