Dad of girl missing since 1981 to hand back medals

Richard Lee served in the military for more than 30 years, but said the medals mean “nothing” to him

The father of a girl who went missing more than 40 years ago said he will be joined by veterans when he hands back his Army medals in protest over the handling of the case.

Katrice Lee vanished on her second birthday near a British military base in Paderborn, Germany, in 1981.

Richard Lee, of Hartlepool, said he will travel to Downing Street on 31 May to return his medals.

The Ministry of Defence said its “sympathies were with the family.”

Katrice had been with her mother, Sharon, and her aunt, Wendy, at a Naafi (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) supermarket when she disappeared.

Mr Lee, a former warrant officer, served in the Army for more than 30 years, including in the 15/19 Royal King’s Hussars in the former West Germany.

‘Lifeboat cut adrift’

He is planning to hand back his Northern Ireland general service medal and another medal awarded to him for 30-years’ service and good conduct.

He said that other former soldiers from all over the UK had pledged to accompany him on his journey to Downing Street.

The family believe Katrice was taken and that the family had been failed by the Army, Royal Military Police and successive governments.

Recalling the time of his daughter’s disappearance, Mr Lee said: ”We were on a lifeboat cut adrift, floundering with no one to guide us and hold our hand.”

Katrice Lee went missing on her second birthday while out shopping with her mother

Mr Lee said a meeting with the then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson in May 2022 was a “publicity stunt”.

He said he was given very little notice ahead of the meeting, which took place during a visit by Mr Johnson to Hartlepool, and that nothing “meaningful” was discussed.

A planned meeting between Mr Lee and Margaret Thatcher in 1982 had been cancelled because of the Falklands War.

In 2012, the Royal Military Police apologised for failings in the initial investigation and reopened its inquiries under the title Operation Bute.

Probes by Royal Military Police have been unable to determine what happened to Katrice

The government agreed to review the case in 2017. The same year a photo-fit of a man seen putting a child in car, created shortly after Katrice went missing, emerged.

The following year, focus shifted to the bank of the Alme river, near where Katrice had vanished, with more than 100 soldiers carrying out a five-week excavation.

Mr Lee said his medals meant nothing to him and the lack of support he had received had “devalued” them.

The MoD said its “sympathies were with Richard Lee and his family as they continue to search for answers.”

A statement added that the department “continues to welcome any additional information that could help determine Katrice’s whereabouts”.

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