Ben Ross’s panicked mum slams UK cops and says ‘it doesn’t feel real’ as she carries out door-to-door hunt in Majorca
THE mum of the latest missing Brit Benjamin Ross has slammed UK cops for “not doing enough”.
Ben, 26, hasn’t been seen or heard from in more than a week after vanishing from the island’s capital Palma, sparking a desperate bid to find him.
The budding trainee barrister from Greater Manchester flew to the Spanish holiday to see a friend but decided to extend his stay to catch a break from the pressures of law studies.
His last contact with his mum was a “peculiar” email indicating his mental health declined after being robbed at the beach and then falling out with flatmates.
Mum Felix – who arrived in the Balearic Island city yesterday to kickstart a desperate hunt for her son – has now blasted the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) for the handling of the case.
She says she filed two missing persons reports, as well as a complaint, but they were all closed.
She was told by the GMP that details about the case would be passed on to Interpol and the British consulate in Spain.
However, upon reaching Majorca, she was informed that Interpol had not yet received a report from the local cops in the UK.
She claims no Spanish cops have started to look for her missing son, despite reports suggesting a Spanish homicide unit was previously dispatched to investigate Ben’s disappearance.
The distraught mum was then told Spanish cops cannot take action until Interpol are involved.
For Interpol to be called on, the local cops need to commence an investigation – meaning the search is at a standstill until they do.
A source close to the mum said: “Despite following the protocol on the Home Office’s website, which points family members to report missing people abroad to local police in the UK so they can activate Interpol protocols, Leigh and Wigan Police have failed to do so on four occasions. Felix has been calling them daily.”
A spokesperson for the GMP told The Sun: “We are aware of the missing case on Benjamin Ross.
“We have notified Spanish cops and passed on the case. We cannot take any action since the person went missing in Spain, which makes it out of our jurisdiction.”
The Sun has reached out to Interpol for comment.
A desperate Felix is now carrying out a door-to-door hunt on the Palma streets for her son.
She said: “It doesn’t feel real. I’ve followed the procedure that’s on the Gov website, and I’ve begged them for help to get nowhere.
“I’m so worried about him right now, if they had done what they were supposed to in the beginning there’s a chance we could have found him by now.
“But to fob this off without justification is incredibly distressing. I can’t really put it into words about how I’m feeling.
“My son is still my son, regardless of his age, he’s only 26 and I’m going out of my mind with worry. I just want to find him, see he’s ok and give him the biggest hug.
“So I’ve started the search myself, I’m going to everywhere that’s open today. The Churches, the docks, anywhere that’s open. If anyone has any information please let the authorities know.”
THE MYSTERY
On July 6, Ben set out to get a European work number – and was carrying all his important items including his identification, phone, wallet, iPad and keys to the apartment he was staying in.
After finishing the process, he decided to go to a beach for a swim.
However, upon his return, Ben was shocked to discover his bag with all his possessions – including his phone – had been stolen.
The trainee barrister reported the theft to cops, but by the time he was done it was late at night and without the aid of navigation on his phone, he got lost.
While he managed to find his way back to his apartment, despite knocking on the door several times, his flatmates didn’t let him in.
A distressed Ben then broke his way in, which sparked a row with his flatmates over the door damage.
Cops were allegedly called to the flat but decided Ben had no criminal case to answer because he’d offered to pay for the damage he inflicted by forcing his way in.
Felix says his flatmates then made clear their intentions to kick him out.
The mum then received a distressed email claiming to be from Ben from a new address.
The cryptic email told her what had happened and that he was not interested in what happened next to him, which left Felix seriously concerned for her son.
She said Ben’s struggles might’ve led to him wanting to isolate himself, with her son battling with mental health in previous years.
Ben is known as a spiritual lad who takes inspiration from churches, books and historical monuments, so it’s hoped he could be finding solace in such areas.
But given he has no phone and no money, Felix is fearing the worst – especially after finding Jay Slater’s body in Tenerife just days ago.
She has since been desperately trying to find her missing son.
The last few days have been torture. I just need to know my son is safe and well
Mum Felix
Her pals set up a GoFundMe page to help support her cover the costs of the search for her son.
Felix’s friend Carla Speight, who has been helping raise awareness over Ben’s disappearance, said the distraught mum is facing exorbitant costs and a lack of accommodation options amid the peak holiday season.
She added: “Felix will put every penny she has into finding her son, we know with the astronomical costs she won’t be eating and drinking properly.
“Right now she hasn’t even considered accommodation.
“As a single parent myself, I know I wouldn’t be eating or drinking and instead put that money into printing posters to hand out or put fuel in a hire car to drive round to the historical spots he might be at.”
Close friend Anne Marie O’Neill said mum-of-three Felix was the “most dedicated” mother she knew.
Anne said: “We just want to make sure our friend has a safe space to sleep and enough to get a hire car to find her son.
“In situations like this, no one has a backup plan for when a family member goes travelling.
“No one thinks this will happen to them, no one has a spare pot of cash lying around in case this horrendous nightmare happens to them.
“Getting support is incredibly difficult and we are just making sure she has everything she needs to stay safe and find Ben.”
The GoFundMe page has raised more than £3,857 as of July 22, with a target of £5000 set.
Felix said: “Like any mother, no matter what age your children are, they are still your children.
“I just need to know my son is safe and well. The last few days have been torture.
“Please, if anyone has seen Ben, even if it’s just for a second, let the authorities know. We need to find him.”