Natalie Ruddick, aged 12, was killed in her bedroom at her home in Newcastle upon Tyne about 2.00pm on 5th March 2003.
She was stabbed some 25 times with a small knife. There were wounds to her face and neck, those to her neck being the fatal ones. There were wounds to her right arm and hand, apparently suffered when she attempted to ward off her attacker. She was also asphyxiated, either by being held in an arm-lock or by being covered by something soft, the base of a bed was on top of her when she was found. She had been home from school that day, to go out and help her parents sell illegal cigarettes, it is believed Pattinson came round to steal from her, she was making him a cup of tea when the attack started.
Natalie was discovered by her 15-year-old sister Emma when she returned from school at about 3.30pm and went into the house with another sister, Claire (aged 16 years), and their mother. In response to Emma's screams, Claire went to Natalie's bedroom and courageously attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but Natalie was already dead.
Ronald Pattinson was Claire's boy-friend. It seems that he went to the Ruddicks' house at some time after 12.50pm on 5 March and found Natalie at home alone. He had smoked cannabis shortly before doing so, but there was no evidence as to whether or how he was affected by it.
On 31st October 2003 Ronald Pattinson, was found guilty at Newcastle Crown Court of killing Natalie Ruddick. The jury took just over six hours to find Pattinson guilty by an 11 to one majority verdict.
Pattinson is currently serving a 13 year term, and is due for release in 2016.
