Mystery over disappearance of Brit trainee barrister Ben Ross, 26, who vanished in Majorca after 'beach robbery', row with flatmates and a 'peculiar email' to his mother - as cops step up hunt
- Ben Ross, a trainee barrister from Wigan, has not been seen since July 10
Mystery surrounds the disappearance of British trainee barrister Ben Ross who vanished in Majorca eight days ago after an alleged beach robbery, a row with his flatmates and a 'peculiar email' he sent to his mother.
The 26-year-old from Wigan, Greater Manchester, has not been seen in Palma since July 10, having moved to the sun-soaked island of Majorca in June to work a temporary job there over the summer.
The trainee barrister had his phone, keys and wallet stolen at a beach while he took a swim in the sea on July 6 and then fell out with his flatmates shortly before he was last seen, according to his mother Felix Robinson.
She revealed to Manchester Evening News earlier this week that she was trying to organise a bank transfer to support her son when Ben sent her a 'peculiar email' on July 10, telling her that he was 'not in a good place'.
Spanish police have launched a frantic search for Ben, with Felix planning to fly to Majorca to help after stressing that the her son has a history of mental illness.
Ben Ross (pictured with his mother Felix Robinson) from Wigan, Greater Manchester, has not been seen since he vanished on July 10, having moved to the sun-soaked island of Majorca in June to work a temporary job there over the summer
The trainee barrister had initially planned to visit a friend in Palma, Majorca, and later decided to extend his stay
Ben Ross was last seen and heard from on July 10 in Palma, Majorca
'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,' she said.
Felix, who told the Sun she is 'absolutely devastated' over her missing son, has claimed Palma police are under the impression Ben's case isn't a police issue because he is an adult seeking time alone on the island.
But National Police in Palma insisted today in their first comments on the case that they were looking for the missing Brit.
'I just don't know what could've happened to him. Best case scenario, he's sleeping on a beach or on a bench, and he's been able to get some food or some water somewhere,' Felix told the Sun.
'But the worst case scenario is he's walking around the heat with no water.'
Felix said she doesn't want to think about what could have happened to her son as 'you start overthinking' and that it was not normal for her son to disappear.
On a fundraising page set up for Felix's search efforts in Majorca, it is claimed that Ben broke into his flat after his flatmates refused to open the door when he came home late after getting lost on the way home from reporting the robbery to police.
'Ben broke into the apartment out of desperation, to be met with aggrieved flatmates who since the incident threatened to evict him,' the GoFundMe page read.
'On July 10, police were called about this incident to be told they wouldn't intervene as Ben had offered to pay for any damages and explained the extenuating circumstances.
Felix Robinson (pictured with her son Ben Ross) is now planning to fly to Majorca herself to aid in search efforts launched by Spanish police today, describing the days since her son went missing as 'torture'
The trainee barrister (pictured), from Wigan, Greater Manchester, had his phone, keys and wallet stolen at a beach while he took a swim in the sea on July 6 and then fell out with his flatmates shortly before he was last seen
'One of the flatmates is then alleged to have threatened Ben with two men who will "sort him out" and "remove him" before the weekend.'
Ben's whereabouts are currently unknown and Spanish police are conducting a search of Palma and the surrounding regions for the 26-year-old.
The legal trainee had initially planned to just visit a friend in Majorca in June, but he decided to extend his stay over the summer after picking up a temporary job.
Spanish police said a Homicide Unit had been put in charge of the search, although sources were quick to point out that they had no information pointing to him being killed and it was standard practice in Spain for these types of units to be tasked with probing the disappearance of adults.
A local court is thought to have been informed as well as part of protocol procedure, as happened with the disappearance of Jay Slater in Tenerife before his body was found on Monday 29 days after he vanished near the village of Masca.
A spokesman for the National Police in Majorca said: 'We are aware of this disappearance and work is being done to try to locate this man. That's all we can say at this present time.'
A well-placed source said: 'The force's Homicide Unit has been placed in charge of this.
'This unit also investigates adult disappearances among other things so it's standard practice for these specialist officers to be given the responsibility of getting to the bottom of things like this.'
Another added: 'People shouldn't necessarily jump to any conclusions about there being evidence at this stage pointing to this man's disappearance being crime-related.
'But of course it's an option that can't be ruled out while investigators don't know what's happened to this person.
'His family can rest assured this case is being taken seriously and the right people for the job are involved in looking into it.'
The Foreign Office are supporting Ben's family and are 'in contact with local authorities'.
Felix said she has also been in contact with LBT Global, the overseas charity supporting Jay Slater's family.
