THE AWOL boyfriend of missing Lisa Brown is not just being hunted by police, but also criminal gangs from South America, Morocco and Gibraltar, it can be revealed.
The Olive Press has also discovered that Simon Corner, 33, has been using up to four aliases in his shady business life in Southern Spain over the last decade.
A source close to the investigation revealed that his real name could be Dean Tripp, while he also uses ‘Dean Woods’ and occasionally the first name ‘Damien’.
Lisa’s sister, Helen Jordan, told the Olive Press last night that Corner had allegedly made contact with police via a legal firm based in Thailand and Spain.
The firm insisted he has ‘nothing to hide’ and would hand himself in if necessary.
However, the mystery deepened after an Olive Press source, who is a friend of missing Lisa’s, claimed he is NOT actually in Thailand, as reported, but is lying low in Portugal.
“We understand a credit card has actually recently been used in the Lisbon area,” said the yacht worker, who has known both Lisa and Corner for a year.
“The police are the least of his trouble. He is hiding from two or three big criminal gangs who he is said to have crossed, owing over €50,000. I think he would be safer in custody.”
The Olive Press understands the ‘wheeler dealer’ upset the gangs over various business deals, at least one linked to Ceuta.
“It is possible Lisa was caught up in the saga,” they said.
“I fear the worst for her now.”
A separate source, who knows Corner, backed up the claims, revealing that the convicted criminal had been involved in a ‘serious incident’ in Ceuta a month ago connected to two women and a possible stabbing.
He said: “I am not sure if he was arrested or not, but there was an incident of some sort. I know there are some Moroccans who are scouring the globe for him now.”
Corner, who was convicted of making death threats with a knife in Gibraltar last year, is known in the area as a ‘wheeler dealer’ who bought and sold boats.
He was living on yacht, Rosa, in Alcaidesa marina until he disappeared overnight this summer, owing money to the marina and various workmen.
It was here that Lisa was a frequent visitor this summer, while dating the Liverpudlian, who moved to Spain a few years ago.
Lisa’s best friend Emma Campbell, who lives in Scotland, confirmed Corner used various names and provided a new photo of him.
“We have been concentrating on a man called ‘Simon Corner’, however he goes by many names so please keep sharing his picture,” she told the Olive Press.
Meanwhile, Brown’s son Marco, eight, who is currently staying in La Linea with his father Tony Tomillero, is close to celebrating a first Christmas without his mother.
She was declared missing when she failed to pick him up from school on November 9, although the Olive Press understands he is still not aware of the full situation.
A search of the surrounding area, including helicopters, sniffer dogs and a diver operation in the river by her home in Guadiaro found nothing.
She had been due to start a new job in Gibraltar with gaming company Bet365 after leaving Ladbrokes.
It is still being treated as a missing persons case.
Sister Helen added last night: “We are being kept in the dark by the Guardia Civil, all we can do is keep sharing these photos and keep searching for answers.”
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