A Ramsgate man charged with murdering a teenage girl whose body was pulled from the sea has been refused bail.

Michael Bowditch, 21, of Prestedge Avenue, spoke only to confirm his name when he appeared in the dock at Maidstone Crown Court just two days after being charged with killing Becky Anne Morgan.

The 17-year-old's body was discovered in the sea off Broadstairs at 7.45am on Sunday, May 1.

Police had been alerted at 5am by people concerned about the welfare of a girl seen in the water at the Port of Ramsgate.

Baby-faced Bowditch, wearing a grey sweatshirt and jogging bottoms, wiped tears from his face when Judge Jeremy Carey said that despite the "very careful and thorough" application made for bail, he could not be released from prison.

His barrister, Oliver Saxby QC, had argued that there were exceptional circumstances which would entitle him to bail, including his age, strong links to the community and his family's on-going support.

Mr Saxby also told the court that the prosecution case against the former Chatham House schoolboy was "weak".

The courtroom was packed for the hearing with family and friends of both Miss Morgan and Bowditch. Many were in tears at the end and Bowditch blew a kiss to his supporters as he was led back down to the cells.

At the start of the case, prosecutor Andrew Espley explained that Miss Morgan's family were deaf and were therefore being assisted in court by a sign language interpreter.

Bowditch, who also studied carpentry at Thanet College, was remanded in custody until his plea and trial preparation hearing on July 6.

His trial is expected to start on December 12 and will be heard by Judge Adele Williams.