Hope for Ben’s mother as police fly to Greece
BRITISH police will fly to the Greek island of Kos today to hunt for new leads in their 25-year search for missing Ben Needham.
The move has given fresh hope to Ben’s mother Kerry who last saw her son when he was a toddler.
Ben was just 21 months old when he went missing on July 24, 1991, after travelling to Kos with his mother and grandparents.
Ms Needham, from Sheffield, said yesterday: “I’m overjoyed that after all these years the Greek police are allowing British police to investigate. I just hope they end my nightmare.
“I really feel Ben is alive and someone in Greece knows where he is.
“We urge anyone to come forward with even the smallest piece of information It might just be the missing piece of the jigsaw.”
Ben went missing after being taken to a farmhouse in Iraklis on Kos which was being renovated by his grandfather Eddie Needham. Among the theories being investigated are that Ben was abducted by a Roma family or accidently smothered by earth being dumped by a lorry driver.
Detective Inspector Jon Cousins, who is leading the squad of 10 detectives from South Yorkshire Police, is due to hold a press conference at the farmhouse today.
He said: “The lives of Ben Needham’s family were ripped apart when he disappeared and their determination to find him has not diminished.
“The force is working closely with Greek authorities to ensure a number of lines of inquiry are explored.”
He said he hoped a Crimestoppers reward of up to £10,000 might encourage someone to come forward.
Since January last year, police have been granted £1million extra funding from the Home Office for the inquiry.