£10,000 reward over vice girl murder

The hunt continues for the killer of Nikola Higgins

Detectives investigating the murder of a prostitute are offering a £10,000 reward to help catch the killer.

Staffordshire Police marked the second anniversary of the death of Nikola Higgins in Stoke-on-Trent with a fresh appeal for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

The 23-year-old, originally from Coalville, Leicestershire, was found strangled and battered on a driveway near a church graveyard in Chatteley Road, Tunstall, Stoke.

Detectives are keen to trace the driver of a blue Vauxhall Carlton who is believed to have picked up Nikki, as she was known, hours before her death.

She will always be in my heart and I love her so very much

Nikola's mother Pam Fern

On Wednesday, members of the 19-strong investigation team were due to lay flowers at the spot where she died.

Her mother, Pam Fern, who lives in New Zealand, and father, Bernard Higgins, also appealed for help to catch the killer of their only child.

Mrs Fern admitted she had not come to terms with the tragedy and for the first year, clung to the hope that Nikki would telephone her.

'Implore anyone'

Mrs Fern added: "There is not a day that goes by that she is not in my thoughts. She will always be in my heart and I love her so very much."

Mr Higgins said: "It is a torment to think that Nikola's killer has so far evaded capture.

"I would therefore implore anyone who knows anything, however small, regarding the circumstances of her death to please contact Staffordshire Police or Crimestoppers."

Detective Chief Inspector Carl Brookes, who is leading the inquiry, said the Vauxhall had rear head rests, a tow bar as well as a protective white cover.