Two suspects have this morning appeared in court charged with the murder of a man stabbed to death in his own home.

Paul Wakefield was found at a property in Coolinge Lane, Folkestone, on Sunday evening with two stab wounds to his stomach and a deep cut to his head.

The 66-year-old was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died the next day.

Police arrested Shane Myles and Kayleigh Halliday, who officers say were known to the victim, later on the night Mr Wakefield was found at his Spencer House flat.

During two brief hearings at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court this morning, the court was told the victim – who has been described in social media tributes as a “true gentleman” – suffered a bleed on the brain, caused by the wound to his head, which led to his death in hospital.

Myles, 31, of Rock Avenue in Gillingham - who appeared in the dock in a grey sweatshirt with hair tied back in a knot - has also been charged with assaulting a police officer on the night of the arrests.

No applications for bail were made. Both Myles and Halliday, 36, of Crown Road in Sittingbourne, were remanded in custody and appeared the next day at Maidstone Crown Court.

They will be held on remand until a plea and trial preparation hearing due to be held at Maidstone on March 25.