Mystery Deepens Over Disappearance of Damien in Cowes
Damien was caught on CCTV leaving a Cowes chip shop just before midnight. Around 11:40pm, he headed towards the Co-op near a bus stop, where several locals saw and chatted with him. After leaving the bus stop, cameras recorded him walking back along High Street, past the pontoon entrance.
Last Known Sighting Near Indian Restaurant
The final sighting of Damien was at 12:02am under a camera opposite an Indian restaurant near Sun Hill. After that, he vanished from every camera on High Street.
Family Launches Search as Police Investigate
Reported missing the next afternoon, Damien’s disappearance shocked his family, who immediately began their own search. Years of police and private enquiries, plus TV documentaries and family campaigns, have failed to uncover what happened to him.
Family Slams Police Handling
Damien’s mother, Mrs Nettles, has fiercely criticised Hampshire Constabulary’s bungled response. Complaints include:
- Ignoring initial calls for land and air searches
- Loss of crucial CCTV footage
- Mistakenly logging Damien as an adult, not a child
In 2016, BBC Three aired Unsolved – The Boy Who Disappeared, an eight-part documentary. Investigative journalists tracked down people linked to the case and revealed a key suspect had copies of witness statements and allegedly intimidated witnesses.
Anyone with information on Damien’s disappearance should contact police on 101.
