The former partner of a woman missing for more than two months has been denied bail after appearing at crown court this afternoon.

Ben Lacomba, 38, was re-arrested on suspicion of murdering Sarah Wellgreen from New Ash Green yesterday morning and charged with her murder last night.

He was initially arrested on suspicion of killing the mother-of-five in October and released on bail.

The charge comes after police revealed in October they were treating her disappearance as a potential murder investigation, despite no trace of her being found.

Miss Wellgreen disappeared from her home in New Ash Green on Tuesday, October 9.

At Maidstone Crown Court this afternoon, Judge Philip Statman refused the bail application despite Lacomba’s lawyer David Sadeh submitting a “package” of stringent conditions could be imposed.

“The enquiry is still at the embryonic starting point,” said the judge.

“It would be fair and proper that should a further bail application be made, it would be further considered by the court.”

Mr Sadeh said Lacomba’s taxi licence was “no longer in existence”, as it had been surrendered to the council.

Lacomba is due to enter a plea to murder on January 18. A provisional trial date was set for June 18 next year.

The judge said it was not yet known whether or not the case would be tried by a High Court judge.

Prosecutor Martin Yale said: “A body in this case has not yet been found.”

She has not been in contact with her family since then and her mobile phone is missing and police were at her address in Bazes Shaw yesterday searching the house.

Several police vehicles were parked near the address and officers were seen inside the property a dog and it handler also entered the property.

Miss Wellgreen, who turned 47 last Friday, left her car at her home address and since she disappeared, there have been no new transactions on her bank or credit cards.

Detectives say the search for Miss Wellgreen is ongoing.

Lacomba appeared before magistrates in Medway earlier this morning via video link from a police station.

He spoke only to confirm his name and address and nationality as British and magistrates sent the case to Maidstone Crown Court.

Last week, her son Lewis Burdett said a happy birthday to "the most amazing woman I have ever known, my mum Sarah Wellgreen".

He has described the months since she has been missing as a "never ending nightmare" and pleaded for people to keep reposting appeals to find her on social media.

Officers have been searching areas of woodland and countryside for weeks to try and find Miss Wellgreen.

About 200 people living in the village also volunteered to help search.