A CAMPAIGNING mother who finally won justice for her murdered daughter has had her tireless efforts rewarded with a MBE in the Queen's birthday honours list today.

Ann Ming created legal history after spending 17 years doggedly working to overturn the 800-year-old double jeopardy law, which prevented people being tried twice for the same offence.

She was enraged by the injustice when Billy Dunlop was acquitted of killing her daughter, Julie Hogg, in November 1989.

Supported by The Northern Echo and local MP Frank Cook, Mrs Ming took on the full force of the legal system and eventually won last year. The day of judgement came on October 6 when she, and her husband, Charlie, saw Dunlop sentenced to life at the High Court in London for killing 22-year-old Julie.

Her remarkable victory resulted in Mrs Ming being awarded the MBE for her services to the criminal justice system.

"I am absolutely over the moon with getting the MBE," she said. "I have to thank everyone who supported me throughout the 17 years, especially The Northern Echo.

"I don't know when I will get it but I'll have to remember not to talk too much when the Queen gives me it.

"Joking aside, this means so much to me and my family, that all our hard work has been worthwhile and we achieved what we set out to do - overturn an outdated law."

Since the 13th Century, double jeopardy prevented anyone being retried for the same offence once acquitted.

Mrs Ming, from Norton, Stockton, said it should not apply in exceptional circumstances - like those surrounding Dunlop.

Hundreds of Northern Echo readers signed a petition calling for a change, and the campaign was backed by the parents of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence and Maureen Harvey, whose son, Lee, was stabbed to death by his girlfriend, Tracie Andrews, as well as by a committee of MPs.

Then, in July 2002, the-then Home Secretary David Blunkett announced a White Paper which revealed plans to abandon the double jeopardy rule.

The 2003 Criminal Justice Act introduced the change, permitting a second trial if compelling evidence became available indicating guilt.

Dunlop's boasting confession to a prison officer proved to be the compelling evidence that would lead to his downfall and his life sentence for the murder of Mrs Ming's daughter.