An innocent man falsely accused of schoolgirl Nikki Allan's murder has spoken of how his life was ruined, on the day her real killer was finally sentenced.
The rare public statement from George Heron followed a sentencing hearing for 55-year-old David Boyd, who was convicted of the young girl's horrific murder earlier this month.
Today at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Mrs Justice Lambert said Boyd must serve at least 29 years behind bars before he can be considered for parole.
Nikki was seven-years-old on October 7, 1992, when she was savagely killed by Boyd, who stabbed her 37 times in the chest and smashed her over the head with a brick. Her body was found in the derelict Old Exchange in Sunderland's East End building the following morning.
A Northumbria Police investigation led to the force wrongly accusing innocent Mr Heron of her murder, and he was arrested, charged and tried for the offence two years later before being cleared on the directions of the judge.
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Wrongly accused George Heron received an apology from police this month over 'mistakes that were made' ((c) NORTH NEWS & PICTURES)
Real killer David Boyd has now been jailed for murdering Nikki in 1992 (PA)The neighbour lived in the same block of flats as Nikki's family in the Wear Garth area of the city.
Mr Heron was subjected to oppressive questioning and denied having any involvement in the murder 120 times, during three days of interviews, before he made a 'confession'.
The transcript of that interview is now used with police recruits to show them how not to deal with a suspect.
Mr Heron, now 56, was forced to leave his home, and eventually fled to Ireland after police said they were 'not looking for anyone else' in their inquiry when he was cleared at Leeds Crown Court.
Following Boyd's sentencing, Mr Heron said: “I lost what little honour and property I had as a result of being falsely accused of Nikki Allan’s murder.
“I have had to read and hear (both online and offline) malicious lies being spread about me and my family – some of whom are now deceased and whose funerals I didn’t get a chance to attend (in some cases, I didn’t even find out about their deaths until months later).
“When I was arrested and interviewed in October 1992, my DNA was taken and has been held on record since then. The police would have been able to check it against any new developments/advances in science.
“Moving around several times and trying to rebuild what is left of my life hasn’t been easy – learning to trust anyone is difficult and I haven’t even felt that I could trust in any professional to get help. I have had to learn how to adapt on my own.
“Trusting the police has taken a long time – they still make me nervous to the point of feeling nauseous if I am alone with them.
“I don’t understand why the original officers couldn’t have admitted they made a mistake, apologised and looked at the case again – instead of having a blinkered view and not trying to put things right.
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The sentencing remarks were filmed“Originally, I was angry and upset at how I was treated – to the point that I had a drink issue for years (which I have dealt with on my own). I survive because I have to – like everyone else, I would like answers as to why it took so long to find out the truth.
“Finding out about the current investigation has been difficult – so many details and negative memories; bringing up mixed emotions about what happened back in 1992 and since. I feel sadness, disgust, anger, betrayal by people I expected to tell the truth (especially the original investigating officers).
“It is really difficult to put in words what I have felt since 1992 – going from trying to look out for my family to having my life flipped upside down.
“Nikki Allan’s murder destroyed so many people’s lives – I am just one of those people. I could be angry about being unfairly treated from day one, but this isn’t about me – it is about getting the real truth out into the open, so her family (and what is left of mine) can have some closure and finally try to move on.
“I hope that people don’t blame the present officers for the mistakes that were made in 1992/1993 – it is not their fault. It was probably as difficult for them reopening the case and they should be given credit for the work they have done trying to get it solved.”
Nikki Allan, aged seven, was beaten with a brick and stabbed 37 times by Boyd (PA)Boyd meanwhile remained free and indecently assaulted a nine-year-old girl in a Teesside park in 1999, later confessing to his probation officer he had previously had sexual fantasies about naked "young girls".
The Mirror told how he used seven different names in his bid to escape justice - but Nikki's mum Sharon Henderson refused to give up. Northumbria Police's then chief constable in 2017, Steve Ashman, met her in 2017 and gave a fresh start in the inquiry.
New DNA techniques extracted traces on Nikki's clothing and that breakthrough ultimately led police to Boyd, but also involved more than 850 Sunderland men volunteering to give DNA samples so they could be eliminated from the inquiry.
As part of the sentencing exercise, Newcastle Crown Court heard victims' statements from George Heron and Nikki's campaigning mother.
It comes after police issued an apology to Mr Heron following the conviction of Nikki's real killer.
Northumbria Police Assistant Chief Constable Alastair Simpson confirmed that he had written to say how "truly sorry" he was to Mr Heron for the "mistakes that were made".
He said: "I have written a personal letter of apology to George on behalf of the police for the way he was treated during the [1992] investigation,"
"I am truly sorry for the mistakes that were made during the investigation and I am sorry for the length of time it has taken to get justice for the family. I can't imagine the impact on them over the last 30 years."
One part of the letter states: "On behalf of Northumbria Police, I would like to apologise for the mistakes that were made in the investigation and I hope, as you express in your statement, that the conviction of Mr Boyd will finally bring closure on this matter for you and allow you to move on with your life."
An apology was also issued to Nikki's family for the length of time it has taken police to bring Boyd to justice.
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