Ben Needham: DNA tests carried out on man to see if he could be toddler missing since 1991

Man filmed in Cyprus who Ben's family say has facial similarities to the missing toddler has given DNA sample to police

Heather Saul
Tuesday 29 October 2013 10:21 GMT
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File photo of missing toddler Ben Needham
File photo of missing toddler Ben Needham (PA)

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A man has handed himself into Greek authorities for DNA tests after the family of missing Ben Needham said he shares "uncanny" facial similarities with Ben, according to local police.

Ben disappeared as a toddler on the Greek island of Kos in 1991, and his mother Kerry has always maintained that her son is alive and may have been abducted.

His family said the man being tested had contacted police last week following the release of a computer generated image of how Ben, who will turn 24 on Wednesday, may look now.

His sister Leighanna told the BBC Greek police had handed them video footage of the man with a group of Roma people in Limassol, Cyprus. She said that the man has "similarities to what we think Ben would look like and the age progression photograph we had done".

A statement released on the Help Find Ben Needham Facebook page on Monday said: "A man who says he is a 21 year old Romanian handed himself in to Greek authorities and a DNA test HAS now been carried out willingly."

The post also included a statement from Ms Needham, that said: “I have just heard from Greece that the young man in the video has handed himself in to Greek authorities. He claims he is Romanian and was working in Limassol. The gypsies who were in his company are his girlfriend's family as she is Roma. He has willingly given DNA, so we are waiting on a result.”

The results of the DNA tests are expected to be returned later this week.

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