Three police officers who left it to friends of a murdered woman to break into her killer's bedsit have received formal warnings.

Charmian Falkner, 33, a former security guard at the Brighton Centre, was reported missing by her family and friends two days after she was last seen at a Christmas party.

But police failed to investigate, despite being told Miss Falkner had gone back to the bedsit of James Flynn who she met that night.

It was left to her family to break into Flynn's bedsit in Dorset Gardens, Brighton, six days later where they discovered her corpse wrapped in bloodstained sheets on his bed.

On Friday Flynn, 34, was sentenced to life for her murder at Lewes Crown Court.

Three police officers, a sergeant and two inspectors, have been formally warned.

Major changes have now been made to Sussex Police's missing persons policy.

Miss Falkner's mother, Hilary, 59, said: "I am very pleased the officers have been disciplined and hope that no other parent will be treated like I was when I reported my daughter missing. Some good must come out of her death."

The last time she spoke to her daughter was on the night of a Christmas party on December 21.

She knew something was "terribly wrong" when she was unable to make contact and calls to her mobile went unanswered.

She later discovered Flynn had taken Miss Falkner's mobile.

As Miss Falkner lay dead, her mother pleaded with police to act.

She said: "It was completely out of character for Charmian not to call. Her brother died three and a half years ago. She would always let me know if she was going to be late home."

She said police refused to take her seriously and the final straw came on December 27.

Mrs Falkner said: "I spoke to an officer and said 'what if the bloke she went off with was some kind of nutter?' I was told there were hundreds of nutters in Brighton and plenty of woman like my daughter who would go off with them.

"I was mortified and in tears."

Moments later Miss Falkner's sister Abigail, 32, and her partner Laurence Wedge, 49, who travelled from Devon to search for Miss Falkner, arrived at Brighton police station.

Mrs Falkner said: "Abby was told 'I've just had your mother on the phone. She's not a happy bunny'."

"I feel great regret and grief I don't want to cause trouble. I just hope lessons have been learnt."

A police source said Miss Falkner would have been scored on the scale of vulnerability when reported missing.

Due to her age, the fact that she was a single woman who had been to a Christmas party, and her background, she scored so low on the scale that nothing was done.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis, who led the inquiry into Miss Falkner's death, said changes to the missing persons policy meant women like Miss Falkner would no longer be treated as low risk and not vulnerable.

Hove MP Ivor Caplin said: "I strongly support the actions the police have taken in reviewing their procedures."

Kemp Town MP Des Turner said: "The police made a mistake in not acting sooner on reports that she was missing."