A Folkestone man accused of two burglaries and possessing drugs has died in his cell while awaiting trial.

Mark Settle, 38, was being held at Elmley Prison awaiting an appearance at Canterbury Crown Court.

Settle, of George Gurr Crescent, had been accused of breaking into a flat in Millfield, Folkestone in January last year, stealing an Internet dongle, a netbook, charger and £115.

He was also charged with burgling the Smarty Tots Nursery in Millfield around the same time taking three laptop computers, two digital cameras and cash.

Settle was initially granted bail, but was remanded in custody on May 6 awaiting a hearing but died on May 26.

Judge Adele Williams refused an application to "stay the proceedings" – in effect end the case – because the court had not been provided with a death certificate.

She gave the Crown Prosecution Service permission for the case to be halted administratively once a certificate was supplied to court staff.

Settle was also accused of possessing a quantity of cannabis on February 7 last year.

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