Cops prepare hunt for Ben Needham’s body as witness claims the missing tot was crushed by digger
THE devastated mum of missing Ben Needham has spoken of the 'living nightmare' she has faced every day since his disappearance 25 years ago.
Cops investigating the tot's disappearance are probing new claims the toddler was crushed to death by a digger.
Detectives working on the case now believe the youngster may have died shortly after he vanished from Greek island Kos in 1991.
It comes after a witness said digger driver Konstantinos Barkas who was working there may have been responsible for the death.
Today Ben's heartbroken mum has told how her life has been on hold since her son went missing.
She told Good Morning Britain: "He could have ended this 25 years ago. I could have grieved, had my daughter. You never forget your child but at least I would have known where he was. I could have done something with my life.
"Instead I've had a life on hold without being able to do anything or focus on anything. I'm living this nightmare - but it could have been ended 25 years ago. I could have probably forgiven that person back then. But now, no."
The witness - a friend of Barkas known only as Dino - said his pal could have killed the 21-month-old tot by accident.
He led them to two areas of land where building waste had been dumped by Barkas and never searched, the reports.
South Yorkshire Police officers working on the Team Ben case are now preparing to look for remains in the spots.
Specialist units from the UK will head to the Greek island to carry out the grim search.
Ben's mum Kerry was given the devastating news by Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick.
She was sat down with her mum and daughter to be told cops believe her son is dead.
Kerry, from Sheffield, told the Mirror: "They are no longer looking for a missing person. How do I cope with that?
"My mother's instinct has always told me he was alive. What if I've been wrong all this time?
"This feels different now. I'm petrified. I think the police believe they will find Ben's body. I think he's dead."
Kerry relived the earth-shattering moment grave-faced officers dealt her the blow at her Sheffield home.
She added: "It was the worst news any detective can put to a mother."
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Ben disappeared while his grandparents Eddie and Christine Needham were looking after him on the Greek island of Kos in 1991.
Police first dug on Kos in 2012 - but Kerry's hope of finding her son alive was reignited when officers came back empty-handed.
The new lead came earlier this year after an appeal on Greek TV for witnesses.
It could have been ended 25 years ago. I could have probably forgiven that person back then. But now, no.
Kerry Needham
Cops were told Barkas, who died of stomach cancer last year, may have been responsible for the 21-month-old's death.
He is thought to have claimed the death was accidental - but officers have not ruled out a more sinister chain of events.
Dino is believed to have been questioned a number of times by South Yorkshire Police.
Barkas did not inform officers he had been working on the two land spaces they are now searching.
It has now emerged the worker was clearing entrances for a new property nearby at the time Ben vanished.
The witness said he saw Barkas "sweating and shaking" the day after the toddler disappeared.
He had apparently just returned from a police station where officers had informed him the youngster was missing and asked if there could have been an accident.
Barkas told Dino: "I just don't know, but it's possible."
Experts have tested soil in the area and drone images have been taken ahead of the dig.
If any remains are found, cops will probe whether Barkas knew for sure he had killed Ben and denied the truth - as detectives fear his pals could have conspired to protect him from police.
The digger in question can be found rusting and abandoned seven miles from where Ben disappeared, according to the Mirror.
It reportedly has the "Barkas" name painted on its side in Greek and cops are said to be investigating whether it may have been involved in the tragedy.
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