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Dad takes 43-year missing daughter protest to No 10

BBC Richard LeeBBC
Richard Lee tried to hand back his army medals in protest at the handling of his daughter's case

The father of a girl who went missing 43 years ago has taken his protest over the handling of the case by the Royal Military Police to Downing Street.

Richard Lee's daughter Katrice went missing on her second birthday near a British military base in Paderborn, Germany, in 1981.

He travelled from Hartlepool to Downing Street on Friday where he attempted to hand back his army medals.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said its sympathies were with the family.

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

He had gone to Downing Street to hand back his Northern Ireland general service medal and another medal awarded to him for 30 years of service and good conduct.

However, he was told he was unable to do so as they are classed as "personal belongings".

He said the medals were "meaningless" and he will now be writing to the master of arms at the Houses of Parliament to hand them back there.

PA Media Katrice Lee before she went missing on her second birthdayPA Media
Katrice Lee went missing on her second birthday while out shopping with her mother and aunt in Germany

Mr Lee and about 30 other veterans arrived at Downing Street close to 15:00 BST.

"Do I want a lump of cold metal, or do I want an answer to where Katrice is? I want an answer where Katrice is," Mr Lee said.

"I'm not going away until I get justice for my daughter's case."

Richard Lee and other army veterans
Mr Lee was joined by other army veterans at Downing Street

Mr Lee believes his daughter, who has been missing for more than 40 years, was abducted.

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

A search of the Alme river, near where Katrice vanished, was carried out in 2018 and a photo-fit of a man seen putting a child in car, created shortly after Katrice went missing, was released in 2017.

Mr Lee has requested an independent or public inquiry into the handing of his daughter's case.

In a statement, the MoD said it "continues to welcome any additional information that could help determine Katrice's whereabouts".

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