A 32-year-old homeless man has appeared in court charged with killing teenager Ashleigh Hall, whose body was found in a field next to a Little Chef restaurant.

Ashleigh Hall's remains were found on Monday night

Peter Chapman, of no fixed address but with links to Stockton-on-Tees and Merseyside, was charged with the 17-year-old's manslaughter and kidnap.

He is also accused of failing to notify a new address as required under sex offenders' legislation.

Chapman, was remanded in custody by Newton Aycliffe Magistrates after a five-minute hearing. He is due in court again on November 3.

Ashleigh's remains were found on Monday night near the A689 in Sedgefield, County Durham.
She left her home in Darlington the night before after telling her mother she would be staying at a friend's house.

I don't want other families to suffer what we are going through. Tell your kids to be careful on the internet.


Ashleigh, who was studying to become a nursery nurse, met her alleged killer on a social networking site.
Her mother, Andrea Hall, has urged other parents to warn their children about the internet.
She said: "I don't want other families to suffer what we are going through.
"Tell your kids to be careful on the internet.
"Don't meet someone without telling your family where you are going.

"Don't trust anybody and don't put your children on Facebook or other sites if they are under age."

Mrs Hall added: "We have learned a terrible lesson. All we ask now is that people help the police in any way they can. We don't want any other child to be a victim."

Ashleigh had three sisters - Olivia, six, Ellie, four, and one-year-old Evie - who were said by their mother to be "distraught".