EXCL: Hartlepool dad of missing Katrice Lee calls on police to do more to stop harassment
Richard Lee says the police aren't doing enough to stop a woman from Bedfordshire
We can exclusively reveal that the Hartlepool dad of a toddler who's been missing for more than 40 years is calling on police to do more to stop harassment from impersonators.
Richard Lee has been fighting since 1981 for answers about his two year-old Katrice who disappeared in Paderborn in Germany.
He says he and his family's been harassed by a woman in Bedfordshire who's been claiming to be his daughter since 2020 - despite DNA tests proving she isn't.
Richard said: "My eldest daughter, Natasha, in Hampshire, she has constantly been harassed by her I am constantly being harassed by her.
"There are platforms in place and if done correctly, then we never actually make contact because up to this point it's all been negative, they were not Katrice. But unfortunately, within that mix, what we end up with is people that won't take no for an answer and then continue to harass the family.
"On the 27th of November, 2020, she had a blood test taken and she was informed that she was not Katrice. She has constantly harassed the family.
"The latest to date is she contacted my Member of Parliament, Jonathan Brash, his office, and claimed to be Katrice, and she required a DNA test on the 19th of May.
"Why is this individual being allowed, six years down the line, still to claim she's got mental health issues, remove her access from the internet and her smartphone from her and then maybe my family would be able to move on and get answers to what our particular aim is, to find out what's happened to Katrice.
"My family at the moment are enduring people like this and taking us away from our true aim, which is to find out what's happened to Katrice. Now, my eldest daughter Natasha, who is my rock, she is actually fighting on one front dealing with a different impersonating scammer and I'm fighting on the other.
"I'm saddened that, in my opinion, there would appear to be a system that is not equal. If I was a high profile person, then I would have been treated differently and we would never have got to this stage. But unfortunately, I'm just a common working man."
Richard added that he will give her the "15 minutes of fame" if it goes through the criminal justice system.
In a statement, Bedfordshire Police said: "Bedfordshire Police is aware of the individual concerned and has previously received reports in relation to this matter. The force acknowledges the concerns regarding ongoing contact and the impact this is having on the Lee family. It is important that any response is both proportionate and appropriate whilst prioritising the safety and wellbeing of those affected.
"Detectives from Bedfordshire Police’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) have been tasked with reviewing the most recent information alongside the existing history of reports to ensure that all available options are being appropriately considered. This includes exploring what further measures may be taken, both by police and other statutory partners, to reduce the risk of continued unwanted contact and to support the Lee family in preventing further distress."