A MUM is trying to track down the dad of her five-year-old daughter who she believes was a soldier serving in Colchester.

Sarah Hähnel says finally tracking down Lily’s biological father will be the “missing piece of her life jigsaw puzzle”.

Attempts to trace him since they met at a party in Colchester on December 12, 2010, have proved fruitless.

Sarah, who lives in Berlin with her fiancé James, Lily and their 18-month-old daughter Marla, met the mystery soldier when she came to Essex University on an exchange programme.

She said she was 28 at the time and had been at a party on the Wivenhoe campus.

Sarah said: “I decided to get the bus home from the campus to the bus station in town.

“I lived in Winnock Road in Colchester and on my way there I went down St Botolph’s Street and he suddenly appeared.

“I think he might have been there with his mate at a club and was standing outside, and he started flirting with me.”

The man, who said he had just joined the Army barracks in Colchester, walked back to Sarah’s flat with her.

Sarah said the pair, who were both drunk, spent the night together and he had to leave a few hours later for work.

She said: “I forgot his name straight away. I think he was rather tall, skinny, with blonde hair, and possibly grey eyes.

“He looked quite young - I even asked him if he was really 18, about three times.”

The pair did not exchange numbers but two weeks later Sarah discovered she was pregnant.

She said it could not have been anyone else’s baby.

The soldier did leave keys at her flat but attempts to reach him through the Army have failed.

Sarah, now 34, said: “On the key is a number and that number was his room at the barracks. It is a safety protected so I know he must have reported that.”

She added: “I contacted a few institutions, the Army police station in Colchester.

“ I even contacted several soldiers on Facebook who I could find in Colchester.

“Some were really helpful but couldn’t help.

“I am not sure if he has any clue.”

Sarah added: “It was my decision to have the child.

“For the first three years I searched and searched, then I gave it a rest because it was going nowhere.

“It is his child and her future and she is a brilliant child.

“I love her to pieces and never regretted anything.

“She wants to know, she is missing a piece of her life jigsaw puzzle.

“Plus his medical background could be important and also his parents have a grandchild.”

Sarah is due to marry her fiance James next year.

She said he was supportive of her search for the soldier who is Lily’s biological father.

If you have any information which could help trace Lily’s father, contact the Gazette news room on 01206 508414 or email andrea.collitt@nqe.com.