A teenager has been jailed for life for the brutal stabbing of his girlfriend's 12-year-old sister.

The callous killing shocked the nation when schoolgirl Natalie Ruddick was stabbed 25 times in the face, neck and arms.

A jury sitting at Newcastle Crown Court returned a guilty verdict yesterday after hearing how Ronald Pattinson murdered the youngster when she disturbed him stealing £30 from the family home.

Natalie, who was feeling sick and off school, was stabbed 25 times in the frenzied attack on March 5 this year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Ronald Pattinson, 18, who was dating Natalie's sister Claire, 16, arrived at the house.

Natalie, who was at home on her own, let Pattinson into the house. She was making him a cup of tea in the kitchen when she spotted him trying to steal the cash.

Realising he had been spotted, he grabbed a knife and chased the defenceless youngster. After the attack, he left her body lying on the bedroom floor.

She was discovered by Claire and sister Emma, 15, when they returned home later that afternoon.

Emma was the first into the youngster's bedroom and discovered Natalie.

She called out and dialled the emergency services as Claire entered the bedroom. Claire then took the phone from her sister and carried out instructions from paramedics.

Natalie was taken to Newcastle General Hospital but was later pronounced dead.

A post mortem examination carried out the same day revealed she had died from stab wounds from a sharp instrument, probably a knife.

Dr Nigel Cooper concluded she had been stabbed at least 25 times.

Detective Superintendent Tony Thornton said: "Ronald Pattinson carried out a vicious and unprovoked attack on a defenceless 12-year-old.

"It was all the more despicable because he was in a position of trust."

Pattinson, of Belsay Place, Arthur's Hill, Newcastle, denied the murder charge but a jury found him guilty and he was jailed for life.

Natalie's mother, Dawn Gallagher, said in a statement: "I am glad justice has been served. As long as I live I will never forget the evil thing he has done to our family."