'Sickening scammer' claims to be missing toddler
Family handoutThe father of a girl who went missing more than 40 years ago has accused a scammer of trying to ''make money out of his misery'' by pretending to be his daughter.
Katrice Lee vanished on her second birthday from a supermarket near Paderborn, Germany, where he father was serving in the British Army in November 1981.
Richard Lee, 76, from Hartlepool, said an American woman is now claiming to be Katrice and has set up a fundraising page online.
She said she needed money to travel to the UK for a DNA test to prove her identity, but her claim to be Katrice is not being treated seriously by the authorities.
Richard Lee said over the years his family has been targeted by scammers and internet trolls, but they had never had anyone trying to make money from their pain.
He said: ''I'm fuming and disgusted that this woman is trying to cash in our tragedy.
"It is so callous and she has no interest in how we all feel.''
Family handoutThe family has reported the posts to police and were being supported by their local MP, Labour's Jonathan Brash, who has written to the Foreign Office to urge action be taken against the woman claiming to be Katrice.
Brash said: ''It's an absolute scandal to pretend to be someone's missing daughter.
"It's sick and then to try and make money from it is unbelievable.''
Over the years Lee has never wavered in his belief that Katrice was abducted and is living somewhere in Europe, unaware of her past.
''I believe I will get answers, I believe in miracles. It's just our miracles haven't happened yet."