AN UNEMPLOYED man appeared in court yesterday charged with murder of his former partner.

Peter Hutchings, 59, made his appearance before Canterbury magistrates at 2.20pm.

Wearing a light blue jumper and flanked by two security guards, Hutchings spoke only to confirm his name.

He looked unwell and gaunt as Roger O’Brien, the clerk of the court, told him that he was charged with one offence – the murder of Sally Jessop on December 31.

Hutchings, who suffers from tinnitus, had hospital wristbands and pieces of cotton still attached to his arms as he sat in the dock.

He did not lift his head once and looked into the well of the court during the five-minute hearing.

His solicitor Nicholas Jones made no application for bail and Hutchings was remanded in custody. He is next due to appear before a judge at Maidstone Crown Court on January 16.

The body of teacher Ms Jessop, 48, was found in her former home in Harcourt Drive, Canterbury, at 5pm on New Year’s Eve.

She was a year three teacher at Joy Lane Junior School, Whitstable, where she had been for 14 years.