A FORMER policeman has appeared in court charged with the murder of a detective from York.

Peter Foster, 35, appeared at Worthing magistrates court this morning accused of killing his partner, Heather Cooper.

The body of Miss Cooper, a 33-year-old mother-of-two originally from the Acomb area of York, was found in woodland in West Sussex on Sunday.

A serving detective constable with the Surrey force, who lived in a rented house in West Street, Haslemere, she had suffered head injuries and a stab wound to the throat.

Foster, also of West Street, was remanded in custody and will appear at Lewes Crown Court to tomorrow.