TOM Hilton was left fighting for his life in 2021 after being brutally attacked.
Now one of his attackers – Jay Slater – has been missing for more than a week, and Tom has called for the focus to stay on his search.
Tom Hilton suffered a split skull when he was ambushed by an eight-member gang, including Jay, wielding a machete, golf clubs, and an axe.
The attack took place in Rishton, Lancashire, in 2021 and left 17-year-old Tom fighting for his life.
During his testimony at Preston Crown Court last year, Tom likened the gang’s behaviour to “a pack of gorillas.”
He recalled how he was chased and assaulted by the group, resulting in his skull being exposed and injuries to his shoulders and legs.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the gang members laughed and joked throughout the trial.
Judge Philip Parry addressed the defendants, stating, “You should all eight be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves but I am not at all convinced you are.
“Many of you have found these proceedings amusing throughout the trial and yesterday and today, showing disrespect to the court.
“I hope for the sake of all your families, the public and the people who have offered you jobs and apprenticeships and the sort that you all grow up.”
Jay received an 18-month community order, which included 25 days of rehabilitation activities and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Despite his ordeal, Tom criticised online trolls and urged them to “help find” 19-year-old Jay, who disappeared in Tenerife over a week ago.
On Facebook, he posted: “Whoever’s writing on these TikToks give it a rest. This young lad’s missing and his family’s heartbroken.
“Put yourself in their shoes. Stop talking nonsense on social and get this lad found, mentioning my name all this and that.
“And have some respect and help find this boy and get him back to his family.”
After completing most of his sentence, Jay took his first trip abroad on June 16 with friends to attend the three-day NRG festival in Tenerife.
Following a rave on that same day, he travelled to Masca in the north of the island with two British men he met that evening.
The apprentice bricklayer spent a few hours at their Airbnb rental before attempting to return to his holiday accommodation.
In a final desperate call to his friend Lucy Law on the morning of June 17, Jay said he was lost in the “middle of nowhere,” without water, and his phone battery was at one per cent.
By 9am, a missing persons report was filed, and a massive search began, involving sniffer dogs, drones, helicopters, and dozens of emergency crews.
The intense search focused on the challenging terrain of the 2,000-foot Masca ravine, known as “badlands,” where his phone last signalled a nearby cell tower at 8:50am on June 17.
On June 18, police advised Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, to fly immediately to Tenerife.
During this time, Debbie received a distressing Snapchat message stating, “Kiss goodbye to your boy, you’re never going to see him again, he owes me a lot of money.”
Despite a reported sighting of Jay near a church with two men at 6pm on June 22, police could not confirm this lead.
In the days following, Jay’s family was tormented by trolls posting fake death announcements and other malicious messages online.
The harassment continued as critics questioned the intentions behind over £30,000 raised through a GoFundMe page.
An anguished Debbie expressed her disappointment: “I am really am saddened by all your comments. You seem to be so bothered about this GoFundMe page.
“I really hope I am not taking my son home in a body bag.
“I really cannot believe the British public are not supporting me in trying to find Jay.
“This may happen to any of you one day. Very let down by you all.”
Meanwhile, Jay’s father described their ongoing ordeal as being in “a living hell.”
