Senior detective praises mum of murdered Sunderland schoolgirl Nikki Allan's campaign for justice

Sharon Henderson has campaigned for justice for the seven-year-old ever since her death in October 1992.

And she was at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday to see 55-year-old David Boyd convicted of the horrific crime.

Boyd’s trial came after an investigation by a new forensic team which was set up to examine the case in 2017 – and led by Detective Chief Superintendent Lisa Theaker.

Speaking at a press conference today, Wednesday, May 17, Ms Theaker said Sharon Henderson had ‘campaigned tirelessly for years’ to get a new investigation.

Truly sorry

"Sharon absolutely needs to be given credit for the work, the campaigning and not giving up,” she said.

Assistant Chief Constable Alastair Simpson apologised to Nikki's family for the mistakes in the original investigation which allowed Boyd to remain free while detectives concentrated on local man George Heron.

"I am truly sorry for mistakes that were made in the 1992 investigation and I am sorry for the length of time it has taken to get justice for the family,” he said.

"I cannot imagine the impact on them over the course of the last 30 years, so I have offered to meet with Sharon and with other members of the family and I will be happy to say that to them when I meet them."

Lisa Theaker transferred to Cleveland Police in 2019, but retained control of the Nikki Allan case.

“It was really difficult from my point of view to hand the case over,” she said.

"I had been the decision maker and set the direction but also for mam, for Sharon as well. I felt a huge amount of responsibility, no matter which way this case went, whether we got Boyd charged or not, to be the person that would sit with Sharon and explain the reason why.

"Either way, I’d retain it, which was a challenge but ultimately it was the right thing to do.”

Speaking of her feelings when Boyd was convicted, she said: “It was a range of range of emotions but the most overwhelming one for me was one of relief and relief for Sharon and the family, that they have got the answers that they have waited for for years.

"So, absolute relief from my point of view that we’ve got the right person and he’s off the streets.”

‘I could not be more proud’

She condemned Boyd for his plea of not guilty: “He was not going to admit what he had done and we saw that in the trial – he has put the family through the most horrific details of the investigation that they have had to sit and listen to – and not just them, the jury too. I think it’s been really traumatic for them as well.”

And she praised her team: “I could not be more proud.

"It is really hard when you have got a long-running investigation to try and keep the team motivated and committed but the have all been outstanding.

"People have retired and then come back to work on the case because they wanted to see justice for Nikki and her entire family.”