The devastated mother of a murdered seven-year-old girl has called the sentence handed to her killer a "disgrace".
Nikki Allan was struck with a brick and stabbed 37 times by David Boyd in Sunderland in October 1992. Her body was found in a derelict building known as the Old Exchange building.
Advances in DNA in recent years led to Boyd, now 55, being charged with her murder. Earlier this month, Boyd, of Chesterton Court, Norton, Stockton, was convicted by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.
Read more: Nikki Allan's murder: Paedophile jailed for life for savagely killing seven-year-old to silence her
On Tuesday afternoon, Boyd was sentenced at the court in Newcastle to life in prison with a minimum term of 29 years.
The court heard how The Honourable Mrs Justice Lambert had to use the sentencing guidelines which were used at the time of the offence rather than the ones which are in place now.
Nikki's mum Sharon Henderson, 56, heard the sentence which was being given to Boyd and walked out of the court before the hearing finished.
When she was asked if 29 years was enough, she said: "It's a disgrace.
"This is a seven-year-old bairn. Crime like this is serious.
"Nikki's case wasn't took serious, it ever has been. I'm absolutely devastated.
"Nikki, the way she was murdered, I've had to listen to it and it's horrendous.
"I thought life would be life. I've been let down again by the justice system - and the police force. The police force that's on Nikki's case.
"Because somebody forgot to tell me that they were going to apologise and somebody forgot to tell me they were going to use the old justice system."
Sharon has vowed to "fight on" and has called for a public inquiry to be carried out into the case.
She said: "I don't want this to happen to any other family. I can't bring Nikki back. I don't want other families to suffer like me.
"It's just a shame about the justice system."
When asked if she was still angry with the police, Sharon said: "I am, definitely, definitely. They haven't done their jobs properly."
Nikki's sister Stacey Allan said the sentence was "not good enough".
She said: "For now we just need to take one step at a time. My mam has been through a lot.
"He should never walk free again. How on earth could he walk free to harm another child?"
Sharon's solicitor Harriet Wistrich read out a statement in which she it was not the end of her campaign.
She said: "I think we have to really recognise that if it wasn't for continuing to thrive all these years we wouldn't be here today.
"She's fought the most incredible battle after the most awful circumstances.
"What I will say is this is this is not yet the end of her campaign for justice."
Harriet said that Sharon demands that Northumbria Police is held accountable for the historic failures which have led to her waiting 31 years for Nikki's killer to be convicted. She said a public inquiry into the matter was "essential".
Read more:
Nikki Allan's murder: Paedophile jailed for life for savagely killing seven-year-old to silence her
Man falsely accused of killing Nikki Allan speaks out after David Boyd jailed for life
Nikki Allan murder: Live updates as David Boyd jailed for life for killing seven-year-old
"He's a monster": Nikki Allan's mum Sharon Henderson still tortured after murder conviction
