THE PARTNER OF British author Helen Bailey has appeared before court today charged with her murder.

Ian Stewart (55), from Baldock Road in Royston, Hertfordshire in the south of England, appeared before Hatfield Remand Court today charged with the murder of Bailey (51), who was reported missing in April.

He has also been charged with perverting the course of justice (reporting Helen Bailey as missing to police and hiding her body) and preventing lawful burial.

No bail application was made and he will appear before St Albans Crown Court this coming Monday.

Police searching for Bailey yesterday found a body within the grounds of the home she shared with Stewart in Royston.

A post-mortem is due to take place on the body on Monday,

Specialist teams had returned to her home last Monday and have been carrying out searches since then.

Stewart was arrested on Monday and later released before being rearrested yesterday.

“Helen’s family have been updated of this significant development and are continuing to receive support from specialist family liaison officers,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Fullwood.

As you can fully appreciate this will be an extremely difficult time for them and they have requested their privacy be respected at this time.

Bailey was reported missing by Stewart to police on 17 April.

The well-known novelist had written a number of books for teenagers, including the Electra Brown coming-of-age series.

Comments have been disabled as the case is before the courts.

Read: 13-year-old dies in single vehicle crash

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