A man was charged today with the murder of 48-year-old mother Charmaine Dempsey, found dead in her flat in Crawley on December 29.

Stephen Johnstone, 26, of Bewbush, Crawley, was appearing before the town's magistrates today.

Ms Dempsey, of Ivory Walk, Bewbush, suffered multiple injuries, apparently as a result of a severe beating.

It is believed she had been dead for more than a month when she was found by her daughter, 26.

Sussex Police have up to 60 officers and members of staff working on the investigation, codenamed Operation Fallow.