Georgia Williams disappearance: Jamie Reynolds in court charged with murder after finding a body in North Wales

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A man has appeared before magistrates today charged with the murder of a 17-year-old girl who went missing from her home.

Jamie Reynolds, 22, is charged with murdering Georgia Williams, from Wellington, Telford, on May 26.

Reynolds, also of Wellington, Telford did not speak during the five-minute hearing at Telford Magistrates' Court in Shropshire on Saturday morning.

Chairwoman of the bench Ann Hird remanded Reynolds, who appeared wearing a black jumper, into custody to next appear at Stafford Crown Court on Tuesday.

No friends or family were at today's hearing. Reynolds was charged on Friday following the discovery of a female body in woodland off the Nant-y-Garth pass near Wrexham.

West Mercia Police said the body has not yet been formally identified, but early indications suggest that the discovery relates to the investigation into the disappearance of Georgia.

The force received more than 100 messages about sightings after it made an appeal on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme on Thursday for sightings of a silver Toyota Hiace 300 GS van, registration CX06 ASV.

The van travelled from Wellington to Oswestry, also in Shropshire, before going to north Wales, Chester, Kendal in Cumbria and then on to Glasgow, where it was seized by officers.

Superintendent Malik said police had been liaising closely with Georgia’s family, “who are naturally devastated by the events of yesterday afternoon and late this afternoon as well.”

He added: “This has proved particularly challenging given that colleagues are working relentlessly, but also that one of the colleagues, Georgia’s father, is a police officer within this organisation here, and it’s been emotional for them. Whenever someone from a police family is involved, it is particularly distressing, clearly.”

Georgia, a former head girl at her old school, was last seen by her parents on Sunday evening when she told them she was going to see friends.

Reynolds was arrested in Glasgow city centre on Wednesday by officers from Police Scotland.

Close friends of Georgia, whose father is a serving West Mercia Police detective constable, had described her as "bubbly", with a great sense of humour.

Katy Lafferty, who was Georgia's best friend, said her disappearance was "heart-breaking".

The 17-year-old praised the support that had been expressed by thousands of people via social media.

Liam Ball who goes to New College in Telford, where Georgia attended lectures, described his friend as "friendly, bubbly and lovely with a great sense of humour".

The 18-year-old, of Shifnal, said: "She is everything you could want in a friend."