MISSING Ben Needham was kidnapped and taken away from the Greek island of
Kos on a black speedboat, an unidentified source has claimed.
Detectives probing the tot’s disappearance 25 years ago are also investigating
tip-offs that Needham’s name was changed to Andreas by a man called Nikos
after they travelled to Kos this week to launch a fresh enquiry.
Needham, from Sheffield, was just 21 months old when he vanished without a
trace on July, 24, 1991, while living on the isle with his mum and
grandparents.
It has now emerged that grandmother Christine was told by an unnamed source
that the boy was whisked away by sea.
“Christine was told Ben was kidnapped and taken away on a black speedboat as
they frantically searched the island.
“They have always believed he was abducted. There have been many theories that
little Ben was stolen by a trafficking gang or even a paedophile network.
“And not knowing what happened to him all this time just adds to their
heartache. Somebody must know what happened,” a family friend said.
Needham has never been found, despite more than 300 reported sightings.
But astonishing new claims have been made regarding his disappearance, after
cops recently appealed for two unidentified men to come forward who called a
British missing persons helpline with information on Needham.
Investigators from South Yorkshire police yesterday confirmed both men made
the claim that Needham was looked after by a man called Nikos.
The team of 10 detectives believe the two callers could hold the key to
solving the 25-year-old mystery.
Anonymous reports that Needham was abducted were first made in 1993, when a
Greek man rang the missing persons helpline on four occasions between March
21 and 29.
He told the operator how Nikos and Needham were based in the northern coastal
town of Katerini – 350 miles from Kos – and even gave a general description
of the house they were allegedly staying in.
But the information was not passed onto the Greek authorities until a month
later – when Interpol filed a report.
The caller has never been identified.
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Lead investigator in the new probe, Det Insp Jon Cousins, confirmed a second
unidentified man repeated the claims on the same helpline.
“In 1993 somebody contacted the missing persons helpline and specifically said
that Ben was known then as Andreas and that he was being cared for by a man
called Nikos. I would like that person who contacted the helpline to come
forward and speak to us again.
“The Nikos line has been corroborated by someone else. He called a single
time,” Cousins said outside the farmhouse where the 21-month-old vanished.
Cousins said the information would form a “key part of the probe”.
Needham’s devastated mum, Kerry, said tonight: “I have got nervous energy but
I am also excited.
“The police are taking this very seriously. I am hopeful, I’d like to think
this would be the end result but I’m scared to hope. It’s the hope that
kills you.
“I’ve always maintained that Ben is alive and he was abducted.”
Det Supt Matt Fenwick, who is in Kos with Cousins, said: “There are stories
that appear, or lines of inquiry that have become consistent, and this has.”
British charity Crimestoppers has offered a £10,000 reward for information
leading to Needham’s discovery.
The detectives have also appealed directly to him, if he is alive, to come
forward to end his family’s heartache.
Cousins said: “Could you be Ben? As a child, did you have blond hair and blue
eyes? Do you have doubts over who your parents are, or perhaps you look
physically different to your parents?
“Perhaps there are no photographs of you as a child?
“If you have any of these doubts, please call us and there are trained
detectives standing by to take your call.
“We have a sample of Ben’s DNA and it would be very simple for us to carry out
a test and find out if they are Ben.”
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