Plea to find teen Aleksandr Benga missing for a year after disappearing at Lewis Castle in Stornoway

Police say “no detail is too minor” as they issued a fresh appeal a year after a teenager went missing in the Outer Hebrides.

Aleksandr Benga was last seen at around 8.45am on Monday, November 18, 2024, near the water wheel on the grounds of Lewis Castle in Stornoway.

The now 17-year-old, who was suffering with his mental health, has not been seen since despite extensive searches involving specialist police, police dogs, mountain rescue and the Coastguard.

Aleksandr is described as 6ft 2ins tall and of slim build with short brown hair.

Aleksandr Benga, who would now be 17, was reported missing on the morning of Monday, 18 November 2024. Police Scotland

When last seen, he was wearing a beige jumper and black jeans and had a yellow beanie hat with him.

He had also been wearing a red jacket, which was later recovered during the course of the search activity in Seaforth Road, Stornoway.

In January, his mum, Viktoria Benga praised the efforts of those involved in the search, but says she “can’t give up” on her son.

Aleksandr Benga has been missing for two months STV News

Aleksandr is known to love the outdoors and would spend hours walking around the grounds of Lewis Castle.

Speaking to STV News in January, she said: “I won’t stop, I will search for him until I find him.

“Alexander is a vulnerable young person. He was suffering with his mental health, and he’s considered on the autistic spectrum.

“There is for him a problem of coping with the emotions. He’s highly intelligent; he’s a very smart kid, but he’s got an emotional side.

“It’s very difficult for him to have to cope with, and the castle grounds are somewhere he would go to calm himself to get his thoughts or be collected, to get his help.

Viktoria Benga has said she won't 'give up' on searching for her son. — Viktoria Benga has said she won’t ‘give up’ on searching for her son. STV News

“It was like a safe place for him. Closer to nature, closer to the river or the sound of the water. He loves it, and it calms him down. So, if he was overwhelmed with emotions, he would go to the castle grounds for walks.

“We used to go with him for long walks – we could walk for hours around castle grounds.”

Inspector Euan Cowan said: “It has now been a year since Aleksandr was last seen and we recognise how difficult this continues to be for his family and friends.

“Despite extensive searches and enquiries involving specialist teams and partner agencies, Aleksandr remains missing. We continue to review all available information and will act on any new details which come to light.

“I would again urge anyone who has not yet spoken to police, or who may have even the smallest piece of information, to get in touch. No detail is too minor and may assist with our enquiries.

“Aleksandr’s family have expressed their gratitude to everyone who has offered help and support over the past year and have requested their privacy be respected.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0803 of November 18, 2024.