Hartlepool dad of missing Katrice Lee to hand back Army medals today

A father from Hartlepool, whose daughter went missing more than 40 years ago, is heading to London today in protest over the handling of her case.

Two year-old Katrice Lee disappeared in 1981 near a British military base in Paderborn in Germany.

Her dad Richard is calling for an independent inquiry and will be at Downing Street today to hand back his Army medals.

He said: "After a rather lengthy period of time, I realised that something wasn't quite right and with it being her second birthday I naturally assumed that they'd probably gone to the other side of the building to get to the gifts and durables. When I went to cross over I realised I could see Sharon and she was crying and Wendy, her sister, grabbed me and said 'Katrice has gone missing'.

"I think every parent's nightmare begins when you lose sight of your child and your heart goes into your mouth and mine was on day one and it's still there now.

"I believe that she was picked up, taken and she's living somewhere as a surrogate child. With the evidence that's now been produced 36 years later, a man was seen carrying a child dressed similar to Katrice on day one to a green car.

"Children are a gift. It's plain and simple. A lot of people don't have the opportunity of having children and I realised that my gift was stolen and I want my gift back. It's as simple as that."

Today, he and his family as well as many other veterans will go to London. Richard added: "I'll turn up to Downing St and hand my medals in but equally so, I'll be handing a petition in requesting that we get an independent inquiry, or a public inquiry, and the reason behind that is the incompetence of the handling of my daughter's case since 1981 by the people who should have been an authority and let the family down.

"The devaluation of my medals came at a long time ago by the lack of support shown by a military system that should have supported me and all they are is a lump of cold metal, and I would rather have the whereabouts of Katrice known to me than that lump of cold metal."

An MOD Spokesperson said: "Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Katrice Lee's family and If anyone has any new information relating to the disappearance of Katrice, they can contact us on 0800 616 888.

“The Defence Serious Crime Unit became operational on 5th December 2022 and assumed primacy of the investigation into the disappearance of Katrice Lee. It would be inappropriate to comment on the investigations made by the Royal Military Police and the German police between 1981 and 2022.”

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