A police pressure has informed the mom of a murdered seven-year-old schoolgirl they’re now not investigating her demise simply because the officer in control of the case has introduced she has taken up a job in a actuality TV present.
Assistant Chief Constable Lisa Theaker was the officer in control of the investigation into the 1992 homicide of Nikki Allan in Sunderland whereas a senior detective with Northumbria Police.
She moved to Cleveland Police in 2019, however nonetheless maintained management of the high-profile and many years lengthy homicide hunt.
Nonetheless, Ms Theaker has triggered controversy by changing into the first serving police officer to just accept a key half in Channel 4’s Hunted collection, the place she is going to kind a part of a staff monitoring down celeb ‘fugitives’ for leisure. All earlier collection of the present have featured retired detectives.
Her look comes because the pressure is attempting to enhance its fame following a collection of scandals and a damning inspection in 2019.
Nikki’s mom, Sharon Henderson, was horrified to obtain a name from police asking whether or not she was conscious of Ms Theaker’s tv appointment, earlier than being hit with one other blow with information that her daughter’s case was being dropped by her staff.
Ms Henderson stated she was ‘devastated’ on the manner she was informed and accused the pressure of caring extra about its fame that investigating the demise of her daughter.
She added: ‘To obtain that information would have been horrible at any time, however to get it in such an insensitive manner has left me devastated.
Nikki Allan (left) was discovered stabbed to demise in a derelict Sunderland constructing in 1992. Her killer has by no means been discovered, regardless of tireless campaigning by her mom Sharon (proper)
Lisa Theaker is the primary serving officer to steer the staff of investigators on Channel 4 ‘s hit programme Hunted, through which contestants attempt to evade seize for a number of days
The household of Nikki are pictured throughout the funeral of the teenager in 1992. Her physique was discovered within the derelict Alternate constructing a couple of hundred yards away from her residence
‘I used to be shaking throughout, sobbing and needed to sit down on the mattress to compose myself. The very first thing my liaison requested was whether or not I’d heard about Lisa Theaker showing on TV, they appeared involved that it’s introduced some unfavourable publicity.
‘It was solely then that they broke the information that they’d dropped Nikki’s case. They’d “reached the top of the road” as she put it. They appeared extra involved concerning the pressure’s fame over this silly TV present than dropping Nikki’s case.
‘If Lisa Theaker desires to go and be a star that’s as much as her however I don’t assume she needs to be a police officer on the similar time. I would like somebody who will commit themselves to investigating my daughter’s homicide correctly, not somebody who is anxious a few profession on the telly.
‘They had been at pains to level out she was doing it in her personal time however I don’t care a few silly TV present, I care about seeing justice for my lady almost 30 years after she was murdered.’
Ms Theaker took over the homicide investigation whereas a senior detective at Northumbria Police earlier than transferring to Cleveland Police, the place she rose by way of the ranks to turn out to be Assistant Chief Constable.
She remained the officer in control of the case, although, all through that interval.
She’s going to make her first look subsequent month in a star version of the present, the place the fugitives will embrace former Olympic sprinter Iwan Thomas, drag queen The Vivienne and Ollie Locke-Locke, from TV present Made In Chelsea.
Mrs Theaker, who’s filmed swearing within the programme, used her vacation allowance to participate.
Her resolution to seem on the present has been met with ridicule, although, as Cleveland Police is at the moment attempting to revive its fame after changing into first pressure in England and Wales to be rated insufficient by the police watchdog throughout all areas of efficiency in September 2019.
The ranking successfully positioned it in particular measures and Mrs Theaker was appointed as chief of workers to steer the response into the watchdog’s findings.
And solely final week Cleveland, was named probably the most crime- ridden place in England and Wales, with extra offences dedicated per head of inhabitants than anyplace else.
Solely final week Cleveland was named probably the most crime- ridden place in England and Wales, with extra offences dedicated per head of inhabitants than anyplace else. Pictured: Cleveland Police Headquarters
In April 2018, police arrested a former neighbour of Nikki’s grandfather in Put on Garth, Sunderland, on suspicion of her homicide.
His flat in Thornaby, Stockton on Tees, was searched and gadgets taken for examination as police introduced he was a suspect in Nikki’s case.
Ms Henderson stated: ‘I used to be given assurances by Lisa that she’d do every thing to convey the individual accountable to justice and I believed her, I put my religion in her.
‘However months was years and there was nonetheless no information, aside from police coming again to say the CPS had despatched the file again for additional inquiries to be answered.
‘I really feel that they’ve solely bothered to inform me now that the case has gone nowhere as a result of they’ve been upset by unfavourable publicity over Lisa’s TV present.
‘I really feel determined and devastated and questioning the best way to break the information to Nikki’s sister that this has all come to nothing once more.’
Joan McTigue, a councillor in Middlesbrough, additionally accused Mrs Theaker of ‘making a laughing inventory of the pressure’.
She added: ‘The pressure has a horrible identify throughout the nation and what she’s determined to do can solely make it worse.’
Mrs Theaker stated she donated her price for the celeb version, in help of the Stand Up To Most cancers charity, to a different charity devoted to serving to younger girls within the Tees Valley.
She informed The Sunday Telegraph she determined to participate ‘to each symbolize the North East and amplify girls’s voices, two issues I am enthusiastic about’.
She added: ‘I wish to showcase the skills of policing. It is no secret that Cleveland Police was inspected and it was successfully deemed to be an insufficient pressure. However really there are some actually nice individuals right here, significantly girls, who at the moment are in senior positions.’
The CPS and Northumbria Police have been contacted for remark.