The digger driver suspected of accidentally killing Ben Needham was crippled with debt after getting hooked on gambling and Russian prostitutes, reported Mirror Online on Saturday.
Konstantinos ‘Dino’ Barkas, a once wealthy businessman, is believed to have gambled away his savings.
On Friday, South Yorkshire Police moved their search to an area Dino was last seen clearing with his digger on the day Ben vanished on the Greek island of Kos 25 years ago.
It is believed to be the same spot Dino’s pal claims to have seen 21-month-old Ben playing near.
The friend, who prompted the police search, said he thought it was a dangerous place for Ben to play as it was so near to the massive Caterpillar machine.
Despite his fears he failed to alert Ben’s family, who were renovating a property nearby.
FAMILY DENY INVOLVEMENT
Dino was demolishing an old farmhouse on the day Ben, from Sheffield, vanished on July 24, 1991.
Barkas’s family have denied he had anything to do with Ben’s disappearance. Barkas, aged 62, died last year.
The police chief leading the investigation yesterday explained how they are now targeting the new spot.
As officers used chainsaws to clear the area, Detective Inspector Jon Cousins told journalists at the site: “It’s an area where Dino Barkas was demolishing on that day.
“It’s a targeted area partly because of information from a new witness.”
REPLICA SANDALS
On Saturday, South Yorkshire Police also revealed a pair of sandals – they had specially made – which they believe resemble the pair Ben was wearing on the day he went missing.
Officers approached a bespoke footwear maker in Kos who made the replica sandals as part of their investigation, reported ITV.
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