A POLICEMAN accused of stabbing his wife to death has made his first appearance in court charged with murder.

Police found mother-of-three Maria Jones, 36, in the bedroom of the couple's home on Thursday last week. She had multiple stab wounds.

Cleveland Police officer Graham Ivor Jones, known as Ivor, appeared before Teesside magistrates on Saturday, charged with the alleged murder.

He was visibly upset as the charge was read out to him.

Flanked by three uniformed colleagues, Mr Jones, of Barwick Close, Ingelby Barwick, near Stockton, spoke only to confirm his name and address.

Defence solicitor Craig Beer applied to the court for conditional bail, but that was refused by chairman of the bench Robert Norton.

Following the hour-long hearing, Mr Jones, 40, was remanded in custody at Holme House Prison, Stockton.

He will appear before a crown court judge on Thursday.