Family and friends of Damien Nettles, the 16-year-old teenager who went missing from Cowes on the Isle of Wight in 1996, are today (Friday) marking 22 years since his disappearance.
Damien, who would now be 38-years-old, was last seen on CCTV in Cowes High Street during a night out with friends. He failed to return home in Gurnard, eventually sparking a full scale Police search. No one has seen Damien since 2nd November 1996 and it is assumed he was murdered.
A total of 1,134 people have been involved in the investigation (either as investigators, witnesses, or people of interest) since Damien Nettles disappeared, with 357 witness statements having been taken in the years up to 2013. In 2011, 8 people were arrested following information received from the local community but they were all later released with no further action.
Valerie Nettles, Damien’s mum, has been battling to get support for ‘Damien’s Law’, to improve Policing guidelines when it comes to missing persons cases. Sadly, the support has been limited and therefore it has been announced that a petition to government has been closed.
But Valerie says that whilst the vision of a Damien’s Law is over, she is not giving up on him.
If you have any information relating to the Damien Nettles case then call Hampshire Constabulary on 101 quoting Operation Ridgewood. Alternatively, you can contact the Missing People charity on 116 000 quoting ‘96-001159’. Information can also be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
