A 26-year-old man has been remanded in custody charged with murdering a two-year-old boy and then concealing his body.

Unemployed Aaron Leonard Goodman, of Springfield Road, St Leonards, appeared at Hastings Magistrates Court charged with the murder of Samuel Black.

He is also charged with cruelty.

The boy's mother and Goodman's partner, Emma Nicola Black, 21, also of Springfield Road, appeared with Goodman and is jointly charged with the concealment of the child's body and cruelty.

She is also charged with neglect.

Samuel's body was found in a flat in Church Road, St Leonards, on December 28.

Police said at the time that the child lay dead over the Christmas period.

Goodman was remanded in custody until April 17 when he is due back at Hastings Magistrates Court. Black was remanded on bail until the same date.