Man charged with murdering seven-year-old Nikki Allan in 1992

A man has been charged with the murder of Nikki Allan, the seven-year-old who was found stabbed to death in a derelict building 30 years ago.

Nikki was killed after walking home from her grandparents’ home in the Wear Garth area of Sunderland in October 1992, in what became one of Britain’s most notorious unsolved child murders.

She was found brutally stabbed to death 37 times and beaten with a brick, and her shoes were discovered outside the Old Exchange building a few hundred yards away the next morning.

Her alleged murderer David Thomas Boyd, 54, is due at Newcastle Crown Court tomorrow. 

Nikki Allan, who was found dead on October 8, 1992 

The family of Nikki are pictured during the funeral of the youngster in 1992

Boyd, of Norton near Stockton, appeared before South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court earlier and was remanded in custody.

Prosecutor Niamh Reading told the hearing: ‘Because of the nature of this offence, it can only be heard at the crown court.’

Assistant Chief Constable David Felton, of Northumbria Police, said: ‘A significant investigation has been ongoing ever since Nikki’s death 30 years ago.

‘As with any unsolved cases of this nature, they are never closed.

‘Our dedicated teams constantly review the evidence and follow any new investigative leads that may come to light.’

Nikki’s body was found in the derelict Exchange building after her shoes were spotted outside. Above, floral tributes at the scene in 1992

In 1993, George Heron stood trial for Nikki’s murder, but was cleared by a jury at Leeds Crown Court.

Then in 2014, Sunderland serial killer Steven Grieveson was arrested and questioned on suspicion of Nikki’s murder. But he was released without charge and told he would face no action.

Crimestoppers offered a reward of up to £10,000 for anyone with information which leads to the conviction of Nikki’s killer.