Woman is charged with impersonating missing British toddler Katrice Lee almost 40 years after she disappeared in Germany in 1981

  • Heidi Robinson, 40, from Moreton, charged with malicious communications
  • Katrice vanished on her second birthday on a family trip in Paderborn, Germany
  • She was with her soldier father at a NAAFI store near the British Army base
  • Father Richard, 70, revealed impersonations happened during last 12 months 

A 40-year-old woman is alleged to have impersonated a child that went missing at the age of two in 1981. 

Heidi Robinson, from Moreton in the Wirral, is accused of posing as Katrice Lee, who vanished on her second birthday in Paderborn, Germany.

The toddler disappeared during a family shopping trip with her family at a NAAFI store near the British Army base, where her father, Richard Lee, was serving.

Katrice Lee (pictured) vanished during a shopping trip in Germany where her father was serving
This is what police believe Katrice would look like if sshe is still alive today

Pictured, left: Katrice as a toddler before she vanished in Germany. Pictured, right: How police believe Katrice would look if she is alive today 

Mr Lee, 70, from Hartlepool, said on Twitter that someone had been impersonating his daughter for the past 12 months and that a woman will appear in court.

He Tweeted: 'Just to update people,for the past 12 months my family has had to endure an individual pretending to be KATRICE my missing daughter, after a lengthy process the individual will appear in court shortly. I unfortunately cannot say anymore,but will update you as and when.xx' 

Me Lee tweeted: 'Just to update people,for the past 12 months my family has had to endure an individual pretending to be KATRICE my missing daughter'

Me Lee tweeted: 'Just to update people,for the past 12 months my family has had to endure an individual pretending to be KATRICE my missing daughter'

A woman reportedly changed her name to Katrice Lee on Facebook, used an image of the youngster and sent a friend request to her sister Natasha, according to the Hartlepool Mail.

The paper said police had launched an investigation into the matter in August last year, but officers did not name a suspect at the time. 

Mr Lee told the paper: 'This individual assumed the identity of Katrice and changed her name to Katrice on Facebook which in itself is upsetting. We’re absolutely appalled that she has done this to the family. 

'Can you imagine your sister has been missing for 37 years and you see a friend request on Facebook, you open it and you see a picture of your sister asking to be your friend?'  

Police told Mr Lee at the time that the woman had agreed to a DNA test after she used a profile picture featuring Mr Lee holding Natasha. The banner picture allegedly showed Katrice, her mother Sharon, and Natasha.   

Merseyside Police said that Ms Robinson will appear before Wirral Magistrates on May 1.

The force said: 'Robinson will next appear at Wirral Magistrates Court on Wednesday 1 May.'

Mr Lee has been critical of the Royal Military Police's initial investigation into his daughter's disappearance and vowed in 2018 to 'fight for my daughter to the end'. 

He said, during the initial investigation, border guards were not informed when Katrice disappeared, statements from shop workers were not taken until six weeks later and information about an eye condition Katrice had was not made known. 

A section of bank of the River Alme, in northern Germany, was excavated as part of the renewed investigations, but nothing was found. Returning to the site during the excavations, Mr Lee said: 'It's a killer, absolutely a killer. It's a return to my nightmare'

A section of bank of the River Alme, in northern Germany, was excavated as part of the renewed investigations, but nothing was found. Returning to the site during the excavations, Mr Lee said: 'It's a killer, absolutely a killer. It's a return to my nightmare'

Last year a section of bank of the River Alme, in northern Germany, was excavated as part of the renewed investigations, but nothing was found. 

It followed a reanalysis of evidence gathered during the original investigation, which pinpointed the river as an area of interest.

The 68-year-old welcomed the search but said it should have been done years ago.

He said ahead of the excavations: 'We've just got to do this. I don't want them to find anything, but honestly, I am struggling. It's a killer, absolutely a killer. It's a return to my nightmare.'

Katrice Lee (pictured) vanished on her second birthday in Paderborn
Mr Lee, 70, from Hartlepool, said on social media that someone had been impersonating his daughter

Katrice Lee (pictured, left) disappeared on her second birthday in Paderborn, Germany and Mr Lee (right) said on social media that someone has been impersonating his daughter 

He added: 'I feel bitterly angry and will never forgive the RMP for what they've put my family through. I will fight for my daughter until the end.'

He said his now ex-wife Sharon - Katrice's mother - and other daughter Natasha, 43, were unable to make the trip to Germany.   

Sharon said the toddler was 'gone in a matter of seconds'. She added: 'It's living a nightmare that you never wake up from.

'Nearly 37 years ago we became members of an exclusive club we didn't ask for membership of — we became parents of a missing daughter. I would dearly love to be able to revoke that membership.'  

The case was reopened in 2000 and led to the arrest of a former soldier. But he was released without charge and the case closed again after three years.

There were further inquiries in 2012 when Royal Military Police chiefs admitted mistakes were made during the initial investigation.

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