A DOUBLE murderer who sexually abused dead bodies in hospital mortuaries has appeared in court today after being charged with a further 16 sex offences at a morgue.

David Fuller was sentenced to two whole life sentences in December for killing Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20, in two separate attacks in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1987.

The 68-year-old also filmed himself abusing corpses, including a nine-year-old girl, two 16-year-olds, and a 100-year-old woman, over 12 years before his arrest in December 2020.

He was given concurrent sentences worth 12 years for sexual offences against 78 dead women at mortuaries in Tunbridge Wells Hospital and at the former Kent and Sussex Hospital between 2008 and 2020.

Following a continued investigation by the detectives, this week it was revealed he had been charged with more offences connected to 23 other victims – all deceased females – between 2007 and 2020.

The Argus: Wendy Knell and Caroline PierceWendy Knell and Caroline Pierce (Image: Newsquest)

As a result, 13 of these victims have been formally identified, while the identity of 10 still remain unknown.

On Tuesday, Fuller, from Heathfield, was charged with 10 offences relating to identified victims and two relating to three unidentified victims.

He was also charged with two offences in relation to owning "extreme pornography" in connection with 13 identified victims, as well as two more charges for the pornography relating to 10 unidentified victims.

At Medway Magistrates' Court today, Fuller appeared via video-link from HMP Frankland in County Durham.

During his court appearance this morning, Fuller, wearing a light grey jumper, entered no pleas in relation to all the offence he's been charged with.

District Judge Stephen Leake sent the case to Maidstone Crown Court to be dealt with and Fuller is expected to appear there on November 3.