Alexander Sloley: Police offer £10k reward for information about teen who disappeared 17 years ago
Police have issued a £10,000 reward for information about a teenager who disappeared from his home nearly 17 years ago.
Alexander Sloley, a 16-year-old accountancy student, had little money, no wallet and no passport when he went missing in Islington, north London, two days before his birthday in August, 2008.
He had been visiting a friend's home in Edmonton, but had set off home at around midday.
His family and friends have not heard from him since, and, despite repeated appeals and enquiries, police have never been able to find him.
Mr Sloley had no belongings or spare clothes that would indicate he planned to run away, and his phone, bank account, and National Insurance number have not been used since he went missing.
He has also never been spotted on CCTV. In 2009, his case was one of the first to be publicised on nearly 13.5 million milk cartons at supermarket chain Iceland.
When he went missing, Mr Sloley was described as a light-skinned black male, 5ft 5ins tall and of medium build, with striking blue eyes.
According to the Camden New Journal, in 2012 a police officer said about Mr Sloley's disappearance: "It's like he disappeared off the face of the planet."
In 2017, Mick Neville, a retired head of the Metropolitan Police's Central Images Unit, said he believed there was a possible connection between Alex and missing 14-year-old Andrew Gosden.
Mr Gosden was last seen in King's Cross Station in London after taking a train from Doncaster, where he lived with his parents and sister.
There has been no trace of him since.
However, in 2019, detectives said there was no proof that Mr Sloley had been harmed and there was no evidence that it was linked to any other cases.
Speaking about the Metropolitan Police's £10,000 reward, detective chief inspector Sarb Kaur, who is leading the investigation into his disappearance, said: "Alex was reported missing to police on 8 August, 2008.
"Since then, there have been extensive enquiries made by police, but sadly Alex has not yet been found.
"We are now offering a reward of up to £10,000 for anyone who has information relating to Alex's whereabouts.
"This remains an active missing person investigation, subject to regular review by senior officers, with the aim of locating Alex and bringing some comfort to his family. We have recently met with Alex's mother to outline how we intend to progress our investigation to find him.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Met Police PC from Camberley PC accused of more sex offences
A Metropolitan Police officer has been accused of sexual offences relating to a further two alleged March, PC Dion Arnold, 32, from Camberley in Surrey, was charged with four counts of rape, a sexual assault on a female and two counts of sexual assault by Police said on Friday he is also facing four counts of rape of a woman aged 16 years or over, two counts of sexual assault on a female and one count of assault on a woman aged 13 years or over by penetration. The charges relate to two alleged has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Guildford Crown Court on 30 June. For the charges brought in March, he appeared at Guildford Magistrates' Court on 31 March and was remanded in at the time, the Met Police said he was suspended from force said its investigation is ongoing.
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Herne Bay residents raise anti-social youth concerns
Residents of a Kent seaside town say they live in fear of violent, anti-social youths dubbed "wannabe gangsters".Concerns have mounted in Herne Bay about teenagers launching catapults at ducks in Memorial Park and assaulting supermarket staff, with offenders reportedly as young as reported issues include vandalised shops and elderly residents being targeted, according to the Local Democracy Reporting and councillors will face questions from residents and businesses at a public meeting on 24 June at 18:00 BST in King's Hall. Canterbury City Councillor Liz Harvey who organised the meeting says she has been inundated with complaints and witnessed the behaviour said: "There seems to be a cycle of groups of kids doing this."They're wannabe gangsters, obviously influenced by the internet and TV, but nobody's impressed with them – everybody knows they're just kids who act hard."One local resident described seeing teenagers firing at birds daily and collecting feathers "like trophies".A Kent Police spokesperson confirmed they were called to Central Parade on the evening of 6 June after reports a duck was shot at, with inquiries in Mortimer Street also shut early recently after youths forced entry into their yard, rammed a milk dolly into the back door, and hurled stones and rocks, staff worker said a cashier arrived the next day "shaking so much" from mooted for the issues include a lack of police visibility and Police Sergeant John Sheehan said the force is "not complacent and we don't underestimate the impact such incidents have on local residents".He added: "Herne Bay has a dedicated team of beat officers and PCSOs focussed on tackling crime and antisocial behaviour, and we work closely with our partner agencies to ensure there is a joined up approach to concerns raised."
ITV News
20 hours ago
- ITV News
Ricky Hatton backs calls for kickboxing to be made safer after 15 year old dies in unofficial match
Former professional boxer Ricky Hatton has backed calls for kickboxing to be made safer after the death of a 15-year-old at an unofficial match last year. Alex Eastwood, from Liverpool, was a world champion with five gold medals and had fought in hundreds of matches during his career, including the World Kickboxing Championship in Orlando in 2023. He was due to travel to Portugal to represent Great Britain. But in June last year the sport he loved cost him his life. Alex had fought three individual rounds of a bout at a kickboxing gym in Platt Bridge, Wigan on June 29, 2024 before becoming seriously unwell. His father Stephen Eastwood was watching and knew straight away that something was wrong. "It was just a chaotic scenario": Alex's dad Stephen Eastwood recounts running into the ring to help his son He was taken to Royal Albert Edward infirmary in Wigan and then transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital (RMCH) after he was found to have a bleed on the brain. Alex underwent surgery but died in hospital on July 2, 2024. Today an inquest into his death found that Alex died through misadventure. Coroner Michael Pemberton also said neither Alex, nor his parents appreciated the dangers of the 'chaotic and somewhat disjointed' approach to children involved in combat sports. The coroner cited the lack of minimum standards around combat sports and said the planning and lack of risk assessment before the fatal bout was 'sub optimal'. The fight was unofficial or unsanctioned which means organisers weren't obliged to meet stringent safety measures met by Kickboxing GB - the sport's main governing body Alex's family, who live in Fazakerley in Liverpool, say more needs to be done to improve safety for children taking part in contact sports like kickboxing, and that both official and unofficial matches should be obliged to meet a minimum standard. Mr Eastwood met with Ricky Hatton at the two-weight champion's gym in Hyde. Hatton kickboxed as a child before realising boxing was his true talent and believes that in any fighting sport involving children the safety of fighters must be paramount. What safety guidelines are currently in place for contact sports involving children? Ahead of the inquest HM assistant coroner Michale Pemberton raised concerns over a lack of regulatory framework or guidance in terms of any child contact sports. He took the unusual step of sending a Prevention of Future Death (PFD) to Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Digital Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Contact sports such as boxing, kickboxing and MMA aren't legally required to meet a minimum standard when it comes to official or unofficial matches where physical force may be used between or against a child participant. Official matches will be governed by individual sport associations such as Kickboxing GB or England Boxing. However, if a match is unofficial or unsanctioned, there is no guideline of what minimum standard must be met to provide safeguarding for a child participant. That means arrangements for each and every contact sport contest involving a child is left to the judgement of an organiser which includes: Ian Hollett from Hurricane Combat and Fitness, Alex's kickboxing club responded to the inquest's findings. He said: 'We are utterly devastated by the loss of Alex who truly was a wonderful, kind and exceptionally talented boy. "He was a beautiful and loving soul who was the epitome of excellence, humility and generosity. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and we are deeply sorry for their loss. "We thank the coroner for his thorough investigation and fully welcome any recommendations made that will help prevent another tragedy like this happening again.' David Pearson a solicitor at Broudie Jackson Canter, who is representing the club said: 'This unimaginable tragedy has brought into sharp focus the need for further regulation in all combat sports involving children across the country. "We would welcome any future recommendations made.' What do Kickboxing GB say? A spokesperson for Kickboxing GB said: 'Following the Inquest this week into the tragic death of Alex Eastwood, the thoughts and sympathies of Kickboxing GB are with Alex's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. "The Inquest has heard just how talented a kickboxer Alex was, and how much of a loss his family and friends have suffered. "Whilst the event which Alex attended was not a Kickboxing GB sanctioned event, we have provided assistance to the Coroner throughout this Inquest and we welcome his findings. "Kickboxing GB remains committed to ensuring that participation in the sport is as safe as possible and will consider the findings of the Coroner carefully and review policies and procedures accordingly." What does the government say? The government says it's not their job to directly regulate sport. Responding to the Prevention of Future deaths report Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Alexander's family and friends. "The safety of those participating in sport has to be paramount. "Whilst the government does not, and should not, directly regulate sport it is clear lessons must be learned. "My Department is exploring ways to improve the safety and welfare of children in martial arts and I have asked Sport England to work with the Martial Arts Safeguarding Group and other relevant combat sport stakeholders on this vital issue." What do Sport England say? Sport England are the arms-length body of government responsible for growing and developing grassroots sport. They aren't regulators themselves but do work with many national governing bodies to ensure high safeguarding standards are embedded across the sector. In a statement they told ITV News: 'We extend our deepest sympathies to Alexander's loved ones. "This tragic loss is a reminder to anyone taking part in or organising events that safety in sport must be the number-one priority. "Sport England is not a regulator of sport, but we work with many national governing bodies to ensure high safeguarding standards are embedded across the sector. "Sadly, unregulated activities which are not sanctioned by a governing body can be dangerous, and lessons must be learned. "As part of the Martial Arts Safeguarding Group, which was formed in 2018, we work with combat governing bodies and the NSPCC's Child Protection in Sport Unit. "As part of this, the group is looking to develop and build on existing educational resources to empower parents and carers with the questions to ask when their child is taking part in any event or competition.'
