I have been involved in this case since early 2003. Kerry Ben’s Mother gives acknowledgment to my involvement in her book. In the early days of my interest in this case, I was very surprised to discover that nothing had ever been put on a website. There was no information out there about Ben’s case. I set up the very first website with Kerry’s cooperation, I was supplied with family photographs.
In 2003, I made my first visit to Kos with Ben’s uncle Danny. I had several meeting with the Kos Police Commander. The website I established would frequently receive reported sightings, and information which could have been useful in the quest for answers leading to closure in this case. during July and August as tourists went on their summer holidays, so I saw a great increase in information and photos being sent to me. Many photos and reports could quickly be eliminated. There was however a growing interest in my investigation, with regards the very close proximity of Turkey and Kos Island.
I received an interesting photograph of a young man taken in the town of Olu Deniz in Turkey. The characteristics of the boy I felt bore a very good likeness of how Ben may look like at that age. Everything fitted very well. I had previously received the cooperation of an artist working in the Facial Imaging Team at New Scotland Yard. Together, we were able to create, what became the very first artists impression, of how Ben may have looked at that time. The resemblance of jaw bone structure were to say the least, very, very interesting.
In mid 2008, unfortunately through circumstances beyond my control, I found myself in a position where I was not able to peruse my investigation. It was not until September 2020 that I was again able to focus my attention on this case, and return to Kos, in the hope of progressing the case.
During 2016 South Yorkshire Police had, acting on a tip off, spent two weeks on Kos digging for any evidence of Ben. Their search proved fruitless. DI Cousins concluded: ‘It is my professional belief that Ben Needham died as a result of an accident near to the farmhouse in Iraklis where he was last seen playing.’ The person blamed was the driver of the JCB named Konstantinos (Dino) Barkas.
It is to easy for someone to come forward, and make an allegation against a dead person. But more than simply this, there is a substantial problem with that conclusion.
It cannot be forgotten, that on the 24th July 1991 when Ben’s Grandmother had arrived at the Farmhouse in Ireklese, Ben had wet his shorts, so she washed them out and hung them on a low laying branch, just outside the kitchen door. The question has never been addressed, but if Dino was responsible for Ben’s accidental death, why would he have then in a complete state of shock, have gone up to the Farmhouse door, with the Needham family members sitting in the kitchen the other side of the door, and removed Ben’s shorts from the tree branch? There was also the family Corgi dog in this area who would bark at everyone. For Dino to remove the shorts makes no sense what so ever. Crucial to solving this case, is that not only did Ben’s wet shorts disappear from the tree, but the two or three Dinky cars he had been holding in his pushchair, as his Grandmother made her way to the Farmhouse that morning, also disappeared. Who ever took those shorts, also took the cars and that same person, also took Ben.
This case has been plagued over the years, by the theory that Ben was kidnapped by Gyftos (Gypsies). The problem with that theory is this. As Eddie Needham (Ben’s Grandfather stated in the TV documentary, in the few minutes between Stephen (Ben’s uncle driving off on his moped), and the family realising Ben had gone quiet, there was little time for ben to have been kidnapped. If Ben had wondered on to the dirt path track, the theory has been that he was taken from there, but how can that be when the shorts and cars all disappeared at the very same time?
My own investigation in September 2020, revealed that whilst it is true to say, Dino was driving a JCB near to where Ben was playing that hot July lunchtime, my understanding is that Dino went off for lunch, and it was not until he returned to work at the farmhouse in the afternoon, that he was then told that Ben had disappeared. I also understand that Eddie spoke to Dino and also examined his JCB vehicle.
Initially Kerry clearly despised Dino, but slowly Kerry has come around to my way of thinking, how could Dino have been responsible given these facts. Kerry agrees there is no evidence to date which confirms Ben is dead. Therefore there has to be a fifty fifty chance that he can still be out there still unaware of his background. That being the case, is this a photograph of ben Needham?
I am aware that Kerry has been fundraising, trying to reach £10,000. Her plan is to offer Kos people a reward for information. I know she has not yet reached her target. I have emailed her this morning, saying that I do not think a financial reward of any amount will now produce the result we would all like to. As a successful business man, about a year ago I made 40,000 Euros available for information which leads me directly to missing Ben Needham. That has obviously not produced the result I seek.
In the last few days, I have again been able to meet with Police on Kos. The biggest question really remains, why did it take so long for the Needhams to inform Kos Police of Ben’s disappearance? Kerry had an apartment in Kako Pinari, which Kerry informs me, was originally used by Simon (Ben’s Dad) and Kerry and also by family members for showers. The apartment is about one and half kilometres away from the Farmhouse in Ireklise. It was here that Eddie found Stephen taking a shower at seven thirty the evening Ben disappeared. Why had it taken Eddie five or six hours to go to the apartment to check if Ben was there with Stephen or not?
I have also been to the office of Maria Koleti the Chief Prosecutor, I discussed Ben’s case with a Deputy Chief Prosecutor for the Dodecanese Islands. It appears that recently, within the last few weeks, the British Consulate on Rhodes, has been in communication with the Prosecutors Office on Kos, requesting a meeting. No date has yet been arranged and it is not known for what reason the Consulate has made this request.
I spend a final few days now on the Island of Kos, reflecting on the whole case, and asking how can we be no further forward in concluding this case after thirty years?
Ian Crosby
Investigative Author YouTube.com The Ben Needhams Case.