Detectives speak to Roma family over Needham disappearance

British police investigating Ben Needham’s disappearance have questioned a Roma gipsy family they believe are “significant” to the case.

On the 24th anniversary of the Sheffield toddler’s disappearance, it has emerged detectives have interviewed the potential suspects for the first time on a camp in mainland Greece.

Ben was aged 21 months when he vanished from the Greek island of Kos on July 24, 1991 during a family holiday.

His mother Kerry, who has always maintained her son was abducted, appeared on Greek television in May to appeal for help in finding him.

South Yorkshire Police pledged to return to the country after receiving hundreds of phone calls following the television appeal.

Detectives investigating several leads in Ben’s disappearance have spoken to the gipsy family.

Det Insp Jon Cousins described the family as “significant” to the probe. He said they had been identified by several people over around 20 years as being involved with Ben’s disappearance.

“We need to find out the truth as to whether they had any involvement,” he told the Daily Mirror.

British police are also understood to have interviewed a prisoner who is among those said to have claimed the Roma gipsy family were involved in Ben’s disappearance.

Over the years there have been a number of possible sightings and a range of theories about what happened to the youngster, who would now be 25.

Charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £10,000 to anyone who gives information that leads to the discovery of Ben.