Over the next week, Crime Bites will focus upon the case of Damien Nettles, a 16-year-old boy who went missing from the Isle of Wight in the south of England in 1996. In the 21 years that have passed, no one has seen or heard from Damien. Today’s episode is an introduction to the case. I’ll tell you about Damien and give a breakdown of the events on the evening he went missing. I’ll also summarise what happened – and indeed what didn’t happen – afterwards.

If you have any information about the disappearance of Damien Nettles – or know someone who does – please call Hampshire Police on 101 quoting ‘Operation Ridgewood’.

Website run by Damien’s family and friends about his case.

Yorkies chip shop CCTV footage.

Information about Damien’s Law and what you can do to help.

Someone Knows song – available on iTunes.

BBC Three series, Unsolved – The boy who disappeared, is available on YouTube.

Isle of Wight County Press article about the painting of Damien by a local A-Level Art student.

Men Missing on a Night Out – the research report by Geoff Newiss and Ian Greatbatch.

Music for Crime Bites is by Lee Rosevere at Happy Puppy Records (http://www.happypuppyrecords.ca/).

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