THE father of a girl who vanished from a German army base 36 years ago has called for a public inquiry into the original “botched” investigation.

Richard Lee, from Hartlepool, whose two-year-old daughter Katrice went missing from the Naafi store in Paderborn, Germany, 36 years ago, said fresh information put out by the Royal Military Police (RMP) this week was actually in the original case files and was overlooked at the time of the initial investigation in 1981.

Katrice and her family lived at the base while Mr Lee was serving as a Sergeant Major with the British Army.

The RMP passed an e-fit of a man they were looking for in connection with the case to BBC’s Crimewatch programme this week.

But Mr Lee’s other daughter, Natasha, had later put the RMP on the spot, asking them if this week’s e-fit was available in 1981 – and she said they said “yes”.

She has now spoken of her frustration that the family could have had the “fairytale ending” they wanted in 1981, had police at the time investigated properly.

She fears her parents could die before they know the truth about what happened to Katrice.

Mr Lee said there had been a catalogue of errors with the 1981 investigation, and a follow-up review in 2002, when the family’s DNA was taken, but unbeknown to them it was never even entered on the DNA database.

He said the 1981 investigation concentrated too much on the theory she had fallen in a nearby river and added: “The 2002 review didn’t spot the flaws in the 1981 investigation.

“Therefore the 2002 investigation was itself flawed. Operation Bute, which started in 2012, has recognised that the 1981 and 2002 investigations have been flawed and to date has achieved a few things. One, water experts confirmed that Katrice wasn’t in the water. Secondly, they got our DNA put correctly on the database in case there is ever a match. And third, they have issued an e-fit which was discounted by the flawed 81 investigation.

“I am heartbroken that this line of inquiry wasn’t pursued at the time and I am outraged that it was further ignored by the 2002 review and also a further South Wales police review.

“I feel that a public inquiry is the answer and is the only thing that will give the family some answers.”

Information released this week said that an eyewitness was said to have seen the man carrying a small child similar to Katrice into a green saloon vehicle at around the time she went missing.

The RMP is appealing for information about the child, even if it is to discount her from the inquiry.

The Lee family has been campaigning for access to the original case files from the Military Police investigation.

He said they were appealing for information about Katrice’s disappearance from the Schloss Neuhaus area in 1981, including anyone who visited the Naafi store around the time of the disappearance and had not been spoken to by police.

Anyone with information can call the Operation Bute incident number 0800 616 888.