"I think I am Ben Needham" man claims - Will be DNA tested

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3084280/Could-missing-toddler-24-years-later-Greek-TV-appeal-generates-new-leads-case-Ben-Needham-vanished-holiday-1991.html

I think I'm Ben Needham: Man who claims he is British toddler who disappeared on Greek holiday in 1991 will be DNA tested by police following family's desperate TV appeal 

• Ben Needham vanished when he was 21-months-old, and would now be 25
  
• His mother, grandmother, sister took part in three-hour show on Greek TV
  
• 'I know he's out there somewhere,' his mother Kerry said during the appeal
  
• The police have since received 'a number of calls' and are scouring new leads
  

By Jay Akbar For Mailonline
Published: 10:40 GMT, 16 May 2015  | Updated: 13:09 GMT, 16 May 2015


[*]A man has come forward claiming he is Ben Needham after the family of the boy who went missing on a Greek holiday 24 years ago made an emotional appeal for information on Greek TV.

Ben vanished was 21-months-old when he vanished during a family holiday on the island of Kos in 1991.
Detectives say they have been contacted by a man who believes he 'resembles' Ben following the appeal on Greek television.
Officers will now contact the man and arrange to take a DNA sample. 
'A number of calls' were received after the appeal on TV last night, South Yorkshire Police said. 






Missing: Ben Needham (left, in 1991) went missing while on holiday in Kos with his family - and would now be 25 (right, artist's impression)


Emotional: Ben's mother Kerry (left), sister Leighanna (centre) and grandmother Christine (right) took part in the appeal aired on Alpha TV in Greece


Appeal: South Yorkshire Police said an appeal for Ben on Greek TV last night (pictured) last night has led to new leads which they are now investigating


Search: In January, South Yorkshire Police were granted £700,000 to continue to look for Ben Needham (pictured as a baby)

Detectives are investigating new details, including potential sightings of missing Ben Needham which 'will be looked at in detail'.
Ben was 21-months-old when he vanished in July 1991 after travelling to the island of Kos with mother Kerry and his grandparents. 
His mother Kerry and grandmother Christine took part in the three-hour TV show on Friday along with his sister Leighanna.
While on TV, Ben's mother said: 'Please end the pain that my family is suffering. I know he's out there somewhere. Please call the police and please put an end to this.'
The show which is called Light At The End Of The Tunnel broadcasts to around 50 per cent of the average Greek TV audience and is about missing people, a police spokesman said. 

Heartbroken: During the appeal, Ben's mother Kerry (pictured) said: 'Please end the pain that my family is suffering. I know he's out there somewhere'


Vanished: On the day of his disappearance on July 24, 1991, Ben (pictured on a different date) had been left in the care of his grandparents in the village of Iraklise
In January, South Yorkshire Police were granted £700,000 of Home Office funding to support the Greek authorities to continue to search for Ben.
The force asked for the financial help to follow up information the family believes has never been properly investigated.
Please end the pain that my family is suffering. I know he's out there somewhere... Please call the police and please put an end to this
Kerry Needham, Ben's mother
The Home Office backed a South Yorkshire Police operation in 2012 when land was excavated on Kos, near the farmhouse from where Ben went missing. No trace of him was found.
And last year, a DNA test on a young man featured in video footage shot in Cyprus proved negative.
Mrs Needham has posted on her fundraising site: 'As part of the launch of operation Ben I have arrived in Athens this morning with my family and detectives from South Yorkshire Police.
'During our five days here we will be meeting the British ambassador for the first time in 23 years to discuss Ben's case.
'Myself and family along with British detectives will be appearing on the Greek missing programme Nikolouli as well as holding a press conference with all Greek media as well as any British media.




Ben Needham's mother speaks out ahead of 2012 search







Scene: Ben was 21-months-old when he vanished in July 1991 after travelling to the island of Kos (pictured) with mother Kerry and his grandparents


Clues: 18 South Yorkshire Police officers and two sniffer dogs (pictured in 2012) traveled to Kos to search for Ben Needham


Operation: The search took place around the plot of land where the Needham family were staying in 1991, Near the islands town of Kos Town (pictured in 2012)


Disappeared: Ben's mother Kerry (pictured in 1991) has said she hoped the TV appeal would generate new leads and end her 24 years of heartache
'We sincerely hope this will lead to more people coming forward with new information and will help the British and Greek police investigate into the whereabouts of Ben... Once again we would like to thank you all for your continued support.'
On the day of his disappearance on July 24, 1991, Ben had been left in the care of his grandparents in the village of Iraklise while his mother went to work at a local hotel. 
Ben had been coming in and out of the house which the family were renovating when, at around 2.30pm, they realised he had disappeared.
Ben's disappearance sparked an international missing person's hunt that dominated the world's headlines just as the case of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared in Portugal in May 2007.
There have since been a number of possible sightings and theories about what happened to the youngster, who would now be 25.

THE SEARCH FOR BEN NEEDHAM: HOW HE MIGHT HAVE LOOKED

Search for Ben: Computer generated images suggest how Ben might have looked aged eight (left) and 13 (right)
A series of false leads have previously given the Needham family hope over two decades after Ben tragically went missing.
In 1998, a tourist saw a blond boy of ten on a beach in Rhodes, but a DNA test proved he was not Ben.
And in December 2012, Kerry Needham was contacted by a Greek woman who gave her a photo she claimed was of Ben aged five or six, but it failed to lead to a breakthrough.
Nearly one year later in October 2013, DNA tests on a young man in Cyprus also proved that he was not Ben. 

Over the years police released a series of computer images showing how Ben might look as he was growing up.



Grown up: Computer generated images suggest how Ben might have looked aged 18 (left) and 21 (right)


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3084280/Could-missing-toddler-24-years-later-Greek-TV-appeal-generates-new-leads-case-Ben-Needham-vanished-holiday-1991.html#ixzz3aJDZo2or
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

I don't know if the fact that the young man thinks he resembles Ben Needham is enough to determine he is Ben. There would have to be more to his situation than just that, IMO.
I notice how toward the end of the article they can't help but mention the McC's, LOL. Very different circumstances compared to Madeleine McCann's disappearance though. Only comparison is the foreign country aspect.

Possibly could use a new thread this one , but as per usual i commented on the Mail online countering five contributors who has linked Bens disappearance to that of Madeleine. Nothing libellous or offensive , just normal stuff ie totally different circumstances,there was nothing to suggest foul play re Needham's case , urging one to check the pj files . Email back from Mail I'm perminanely banned and any further posts I will be reported . I once again state I wrote nothing libellous or offensive.ps  I never give them my pics anyway as they don't pay .

stillsloppingout wrote:Possibly could use a new thread this one , but as per usual i commented on the Mail online countering five contributors who has linked Bens disappearance to that of Madeleine. Nothing libellous or offensive , just normal stuff ie totally different circumstances,there was nothing to suggest foul play re Needham's case , urging one to check the pj files . Email back from Mail I'm perminanely banned and any further posts I will be reported . I once again state I wrote nothing libellous or offensive.ps  I never give them my pics anyway as they don't pay .

I think there are a few parallels between the Ben Needham case and Madeleine McCann. In both cases I think that the children were not 'mysteriously missing' but had, sadly, already died by the time they were declared 'missing' or 'abducted'.

In the case of Ben Needham, I think it is highly likely that he went off with his young Uncle on his Uncle's moped and there was an accident or possibly some kind of foul play. Then I suspect several members of the family tried to cover this up (possibly without Ben's mother and maybe other family members not knowing what had happened).

It is possible, imo, that the Needham family had some sort of contacts in the UK - maybe police contacts for instance - that allowed them to continue with the 'missing' scenario for such a long time. 

The case of Madeleine McCann is clearly much more complex and there has been  a much bigger cover-up on a much larger scale. Plus I think in the Madeleine McCann case there is more behind her 'disappearance' than an accident.

But in both cases I believe that the 'missing' label is wrong. IMO both children were already dead when the "alarm" was raised.

Just a theory.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3084614/Mother-s-heartbreak-man-claiming-missing-toddler-Ben-Needham-revealed-imposter-detectives-pursuing-new-leads-following-TV-appeal.html

Mother's heartbreak as man claiming to be missing toddler Ben Needham is revealed to be an imposter - but detectives are pursuing new leads following TV appeal
Man claiming to be Ben already discounted by negative DNA test
The imposter contacted detectives following family's emotional TV appeal
Ben Needham vanished when he was 21-months-old, and would now be 25
'I know he's out there somewhere,' his mother Kerry said during the appeal
The police have since received 'a number of calls' and are scouring new leads
By IMOGEN CALDERWOOD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 18:58 GMT, 16 May 2015 | UPDATED: 19:02 GMT, 16 May 2015
A man who came forward claiming to be Ben Needham has been revealed to be an imposter, leaving the family of the boy who went missing on a Greek holiday 24 years ago desperate for answers.

Interesting use of language.

IMPOSTER
Not "tragically it has been shown that the man who is without a family of his own and who was hoping for some idea of his previous life . . . is not . . . .
IMPOSTER
Which implies criminal intent

Are the MSM growing some ?

A further thought with regards to the the 'missing' people or children situation.

Not sure whether this applies to all the 'Missing' charity shops but the one's where I have bought things only take cash. That's it - just cash. No refunds, no 'ifs' no 'buts' just CASH.

Pretty dodgy IMO.

stillsloppingout wrote:Possibly could use a new thread this one , but as per usual i commented on the Mail online countering five contributors who has linked Bens disappearance to that of Madeleine. Nothing libellous or offensive , just normal stuff ie totally different circumstances,there was nothing to suggest foul play re Needham's case , urging one to check the pj files . Email back from Mail I'm perminanely banned and any further posts I will be reported . I once again state I wrote nothing libellous or offensive.ps  I never give them my pics anyway as they don't pay .

Amazing isn't it? They quash any form of dissent. But not only about Maddie. Here I posted my experience with the mail:

I think the Daily Mail has a black list of commenters they don't like.
I could comment even on this case, as long as it was not too outspoken. Then I commented on a complete different article about something I know a lot and they clearly know nothing about. It was a very friendly comment, but it corrected several errors in their article. God knows why, they saw it fit to edit my comment in such a way it completely supported their nonsense.  You can imagine that the next, and following comments were less friendly, as were emails to the mail. No reaction whatsoever. 
Since then I haven't been able to get any comment published. I have tried with even silly comments on the royals like "what a lovely dress": nope nade.
I can still arrow things, but I cannot comment anymore.

I still don't get why they went through all the trouble editing my comment instead just refusing it. Maybe the writer did realize he had not done his homework and didn't want to look foolish?

I did not get an email though. You must be a "heavy" sinner 

lj wrote:

stillsloppingout wrote:Possibly could use a new thread this one , but as per usual i commented on the Mail online countering five contributors who has linked Bens disappearance to that of Madeleine. Nothing libellous or offensive , just normal stuff ie totally different circumstances,there was nothing to suggest foul play re Needham's case , urging one to check the pj files . Email back from Mail I'm perminanely banned and any further posts I will be reported . I once again state I wrote nothing libellous or offensive.ps  I never give them my pics anyway as they don't pay .

Amazing isn't it? They quash any form of dissent. But not only about Maddie. Here I posted my experience with the mail:

I think the Daily Mail has a black list of commenters they don't like.
I could comment even on this case, as long as it was not too outspoken. Then I commented on a complete different article about something I know a lot and they clearly know nothing about. It was a very friendly comment, but it corrected several errors in their article. God knows why, they saw it fit to edit my comment in such a way it completely supported their nonsense.  You can imagine that the next, and following comments were less friendly, as were emails to the mail. No reaction whatsoever. 
Since then I haven't been able to get any comment published. I have tried with even silly comments on the royals like "what a lovely dress": nope nade.
I can still arrow things, but I cannot comment anymore.

I still don't get why they went through all the trouble editing my comment instead just refusing it. Maybe the writer did realize he had not done his homework and didn't want to look foolish?

I did not get an email though. You must be a "heavy" sinner 

Good luck to Ben's mum in her search.

Read Blacksmth's Bureau latest.

Couldn't put it better myself.

Vanity meets insanity.

Question: Why now and not before now?

PR game bt the police- or the covering of backside for past misdemeanors?

Meanwhile - the case of Missing Madeleine is ongoing.

The search for Madeleine suspects continues.

PeterMac wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3084614/Mother-s-heartbreak-man-claiming-missing-toddler-Ben-Needham-revealed-imposter-detectives-pursuing-new-leads-following-TV-appeal.html

Mother's heartbreak as man claiming to be missing toddler Ben Needham is revealed to be an imposter - but detectives are pursuing new leads following TV appeal
Man claiming to be Ben already discounted by negative DNA test
The imposter contacted detectives following family's emotional TV appeal
Ben Needham vanished when he was 21-months-old, and would now be 25
'I know he's out there somewhere,' his mother Kerry said during the appeal
The police have since received 'a number of calls' and are scouring new leads
By IMOGEN CALDERWOOD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 18:58 GMT, 16 May 2015 | UPDATED: 19:02 GMT, 16 May 2015
A man who came forward claiming to be Ben Needham has been revealed to be an imposter, leaving the family of the boy who went missing on a Greek holiday 24 years ago desperate for answers.

Interesting use of language.

IMPOSTER
Not "tragically it has been shown that the man who is without a family of his own and who was hoping for some idea of his previous life . . . is not . . . .
IMPOSTER
Which implies criminal intent

Are the MSM growing some ?

How these idiots think they can get away with it is beyond me.
Did he think he could just pitch up and say, 'hey I'm your long lost son'.  And live happily ever after without any checking up.

MRNOODLES wrote:

PeterMac wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3084614/Mother-s-heartbreak-man-claiming-missing-toddler-Ben-Needham-revealed-imposter-detectives-pursuing-new-leads-following-TV-appeal.html

Mother's heartbreak as man claiming to be missing toddler Ben Needham is revealed to be an imposter - but detectives are pursuing new leads following TV appeal
Man claiming to be Ben already discounted by negative DNA test
The imposter contacted detectives following family's emotional TV appeal
Ben Needham vanished when he was 21-months-old, and would now be 25
'I know he's out there somewhere,' his mother Kerry said during the appeal
The police have since received 'a number of calls' and are scouring new leads
By IMOGEN CALDERWOOD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 18:58 GMT, 16 May 2015 | UPDATED: 19:02 GMT, 16 May 2015
A man who came forward claiming to be Ben Needham has been revealed to be an imposter, leaving the family of the boy who went missing on a Greek holiday 24 years ago desperate for answers.

Interesting use of language.

IMPOSTER
Not "tragically it has been shown that the man who is without a family of his own and who was hoping for some idea of his previous life . . . is not . . . .
IMPOSTER
Which implies criminal intent

Are the MSM growing some ?

How these idiots think they can get away with it is beyond me.
Did he think he could just pitch up and say, 'hey I'm your long lost son'.  And live happily ever after without any checking up.

That is exactly what i said earlier in my post. There would have to be more than someone just claiming "hey, i think i am Ben". Anyone could do that. Idiots is right,lol.

The article says that the person who came forward had previously done the same thing and been eliminated after a DNA test, hence the use of the word imposter.

He knew for sure that he wasn't Ben.

Im thinking this person could have mental health issuses if they had been ruled out before by DNA but couldn't help contacting police again.

   If there is no conclusion to O.G. I imagine there will also be many 'Madelienes' coming forward in a few years time!

Kerry Needham and family in Greece.


Q. 'WHAT' is 'WRONG' with this 'picture'?

A. There is NO 'self appointed, guardian of all 'missing' young children', JG!

He did manage to 'appear' with the McCann's 'appeals' (on TV)

ps: note of 'caution', imo, i hope this dosen't 'turn into' an annual 'jolly', to Greece, by SYP.

(ala, the over 60 'jollies' to Portugal, by MET 'officers')

Regarding the 'imposter' i posted yesterday on Ben Needham 'topic'.

Oh, nearly 'forgot', WHY hasn't Kerry Needham, ever been 'given', 'ambassadorship' status, at Missing People charity?

The promotion of Missing People and Child Rescue Alert is behind all of this imo.

Who encouraged the writing of Kerry's book 'Ben'?

It's my very cynical opinion that this latest concentration on the search for Ben Needham is a smoke and mirrors exercise.

There is also to be considered OG's position in finding what happened to Madeleine McCann.

This is, once again in my opinion, something I find more than difficult to accept as genuine.

'speaking' of CRA, launched with great 'fanfare' by the McCann's and Huge Grant, how many, of the 480 a DAY, (ref: CEOP/Missing Kids) 'missing' kids, have been 'found' by this 'alert'?

Equally, how MANY, of the 480 a DAY, 'missing' kids, have been 'found' by Kate McCann's 'posties' on their 'rounds'?

WHY is KM 'riding a bike' in UK, in June 2015, instead of 'hands and knees 'searching' for her daughter', IN PDL, Portugal?

Rhetorical.

I 'know' why!

KM: "it may sound odd...........we were GLAD the investigation HAD been CLOSED"

Yep! That dosen't ONLY, 'sound' ODD, that is extremely, extremely, ODD, for a mother of a 'missing' child to say, Mrs McCann!

jeanmonroe wrote:'speaking' of CRA, launched with great 'fanfare' by the McCann's and Huge Grant, how many, of the 480 a DAY, (ref: CEOP/Missing Kids) 'missing' kids, have been 'found' by this 'alert'?

Equally, how MANY, of the 480 a DAY, 'missing' kids, have been 'found' by Kate McCann's 'posties' on their 'rounds'?

WHY is KM 'riding a bike' in UK, instead of 'hands and knees 'searching' for her daughter', IN PDL, Portugal?

Who has been found as a direct result of the digital media boards in major cities launched by Kate McCann? don't bother to ask Missing People, they won't give you an answer.

I registered for CRA. I had an alert on my mobile phone. The teenager was found without the help of CRA. Jo Youle, CEO of Missing People was delighted that the CRA exercise was seemless in its operation that day.

'I know he's out there somewhere,' his mother Kerry said during the appeal


Sorry to be cynical but that sounds very familiar. 

I never used to question the Ben Needham case at all. Just like I never questioned the Madeleine McCann case. It was only when I read coverage of Tony Bennett's legal wrangle with the McCanns that I started wondering: "what the hell is this all about."

Now I've read more on the Ben Needham case and read excerpts from his mother's book, I am afraid I do not believe their version of events. It really does not ring true at all to me. I would like to have believed them but there are so many red flags, imo, that at least some members of the family (possibly not his mum though) know what happened to Ben.

That is how I feel too about this case.

I know nothing about this case Can you tell me where I can read up on it ? Thanks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Ben_Needham

Basic information here with lots of links.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3087820/Ben-Needham-s-mother-dropped-ITV-s-Morning-favour-segments-Blinged-Babies-big-boobs.html#reader-comments
Read the comments re the McCanns - people are NOT happy!!

Dutchgirl wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3087820/Ben-Needham-s-mother-dropped-ITV-s-Morning-favour-segments-Blinged-Babies-big-boobs.html#reader-comments
Read the comments re the McCanns - people are NOT happy!!

The general public that are not necessarily part of the online contingent are not happy that their tax money is being spent with no results whatsoever. A line has to be drawn. The Mccann's reputation is withering daily, so the longer it goes on the more damage it does to them really.

Dutchgirl wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3087820/Ben-Needham-s-mother-dropped-ITV-s-Morning-favour-segments-Blinged-Babies-big-boobs.html#reader-comments
Read the comments re the McCanns - people are NOT happy!!

Agree with comment from Miranda.

sonic72 wrote:

Dutchgirl wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3087820/Ben-Needham-s-mother-dropped-ITV-s-Morning-favour-segments-Blinged-Babies-big-boobs.html#reader-comments
Read the comments re the McCanns - people are NOT happy!!

The general public that are not necessarily part of the online contingent are not happy that their tax money is being spent with no results whatsoever. A line has to be drawn. The Mccann's reputation is withering daily, so the longer it goes on the more damage it does to them really.

I think they finally got that message, and that's the reason they are laying low.

yer names not McCann and your not middle class enough!!!! and yer didn't leave yer kids on their own alone in bed!!!!

Never watch this awful show but I can guess if this had been the McCann's this would not have happened.

If she changed her name to Kate McCann I'm sure they wouldn't have cancelled. Says it all really .

Bet they wouldn't have have dared drop the McCann's from the show.

And yet the McCanns weary faces grace the screens on numourus occasions. Those two must have friends in very high places.

If their name had been McCann, she would have been on for 30 minutes ! Poor Needham family, felt so sorry for them when the young man turned out not to be Ben after he had the DNA test. There is only hope left, that when he is old enough he might recognise himself from the media !

Well to be fair she's got nothing to say what we don't know already
neither do the McCanns but the are always on the telly .

All unmoderated !

TODAY.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-33642278

Missing Ben Needham: Police to return to Greece

7 hours ago

From the section Sheffield & South Yorkshire

Detectives have pledged to return to Greece to investigate a number of leads in the disappearance of Sheffield toddler Ben Needham.

Ben was 21 months old when he went missing while on a family holiday on the Greek island of Kos in 1991.

His mother Kerry appealed for help to find him on Greek television in May.

On the 24th anniversary, police said they would return to the country "over the coming months" after receiving 200 calls in response to the TV appeal.

Det Insp Jon Cousins, of South Yorkshire Police, said: "There are several lines of inquiry that I'm looking at.

"There will be further visits to Greece to speak to other people I believe are significant and have some knowledge as to what happened."

He added that officers "will be visiting Greece over the coming months".

Earlier this year, South Yorkshire Police was granted Home Office funding to support the Greek authorities in continuing inquiries to find Ben.

Kerry Needham has always maintained her son is alive

Ben's mother, Kerry, travelled to Athens with South Yorkshire Police to appear on a missing persons programme.

The television programme, whose English translation is Light at the End of the Tunnel, broadcasts to about 50% of the Greek TV audience.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office previously said: "We have the deepest sympathies with Ben Needham's family and continue to offer them consular support.

"We are following this case closely and will fully assist South Yorkshire Police wherever possible."

Ben vanished on 24 July, 1991, after travelling to Kos with his mother and grandparents, who were renovating a farmhouse in the village of Iraklise.

In 2013, a DNA test carried out on a man in Cyprus proved he was not Ben.
-------------------------------------------------

An annual 'jolly' (to Greece 'when the sun shines') for the 'boys' (and 'girls')?

This will be the SYP, who 'ignored, surpressed and covered up' HUNDREDS of child abuse cases.!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-33599061

HMIC said the review of the inspection included an audit of 28 child protection cases which related directly to the areas for improvement identified in last year's inspection report.

The inspectors found two were assessed as good, 19 requiring improvement and seven inadequate.

South Yorkshire Police is currently at the centre of two separate investigations.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating how officers dealt with cases in Rotherham, while the National Crime Agency has started a major inquiry into allegations of child sexual abuse in the town.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/peer-calls-for-under-fire-south-yorkshire-police-chief-to-quit-over-abuse-scandal-1-7371667

NOT 'reading' as a great 'advert' for SYP, is it?