Nikki Allan's mother in court after throwing brick through house window

Sharon Henderson pictured with a leaflet issued by Northumbria Police as part of the fresh inquiry into her daughter Nikki Allan's death.

Sharon Henderson, 51, of St Patrick's Terrace in Ryhope, admitted a charge of criminal damage after breaking the glass and damaging a television during the incident on Saturday, April 21.

District Judge Roger Elsey was told by prosecution barrister Brian Payne that there was a "long running history connected" with Henderson, which was detailed in a court file but not read to South Tyneside Magistrates' Court.

Seven-year-old Nikki Allan was murdered in October 1992.

Mr Payne added: "This was a brick thrown through a window in the early hours of the morning as part of a long-running difficulty, amounting to a damaged window and damage to a television inside the property."

The court heard how she had been out of trouble for a long period until 2013, when a harassment incident led to a suspended sentence, with offences of arson and criminal damage last year.

They were followed by a more recent charge in relation to a communications offence before what was described as "unfortunate incident" earlier this year.

Joanne Gatens, mitigating, also told the court she would not go into the background of the case adding: "I'm sure you can understand the impact this has had on the health and continues to have on her health.

The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court.

"This is not put forward as an excuse, simply for background to specify why damage to this property occurred and why on this particular night it happened."

Judge Elsey ordered Henderson to pay Â£400 in compensation and also put in place a prohibition activity requirement, which sets out how she should not enter Roselea Avenue in Ryhope.

He told her: "I give you credit for your guilty plea at the first opportunity.

"You have achieved nothing by doing this, other than to give yourself a further financial obligation.

"I hope this is the last time you are in court as a defendant Miss Henderson."

Henderson, who was in tears, said she wanted to address the court and said: "I think it's wrong, the way the court is treating me.

"I'm told the shut up all the time."

Nikki was seven-year-old when she went missing on her walk home to her home in Wear Garth in the East End one evening in October 1992.

Her body was discovered the next day inside the derelict Quayside Exchange building in High Street East the next day.

She had been repeatedly stabbed.

In April last year, Northumbria Police set up a new team to investigate the killing and on the 25th anniversary of Nikki’s death, announced they had succeeded in recovering new DNA from an unknown male and appealed for any men who had been in contact with the youngster or the area around the crime scene to get in touch.

Officers working as part of the inquiry confirmed this April they had arrested a man, later releasing him under investigation.