A TEENAGER has dedicated a school prize to his mother who was murdered 13 years ago.

Kevin Hogg was three when his mother, Julie Hogg, was killed, aged 22.

The pizza delivery girl went missing from her Billingham home in 1989 and despite a police search of her house it was her mother, Ann Ming, who found her body, behind a bath panel, months after her disappearance.

No one has ever been convicted of Ms Hogg's murder, and, although labourer Billy Dunlop confessed to the crime he could not be jailed because, under the double jeopardy rule, two juries had already failed to find him guilty.

Mrs Ming, husband Charlie and Kevin have been campaigning since Dunlop's confession for the double jeopardy law to be scrapped so he can face another trial.

Backed by The Northern Echo, the Mings were delighted when earlier this year a Bill was tabled to change the law.

Now, as the Bill is debated in the House of Lords, Kevin has launched the Julie Hogg Memorial Prize for pupils at his former school, Bishopsgarth, in Stockton.

The trophy will be presented annually to a Year 11 pupil who has overcome adversity or coped with difficult times.

Kevin said: "I wanted to present the school with an award in my mum's name but I did not want it to be for academic achievement. I wanted it to be something that anyone could get.

"It will go to someone who has worked in the community or who has got through a difficult time in their personal life."

The Julie Hogg Memorial Prize will be awarded for the first time on Tuesday, July 1, at a school prize-giving.

Because it is the first time the prize has been handed out, students at the school were invited to nominate and vote for the winner, who will be presented with the trophy by Kevin.

Kevin, now 16, said: "It is good that the pupils have had a say in who gets it this year.

"In coming years, it may be organised differently, but it will always be open to everyone in year 11 - whatever their academic ability."