A 34-YEAR-OLD man has appeared before a Crown Court charged with murdering two women in separate incidents minutes apart.

Alan Bennett, of Lingholme, Redcar, was shown on a video-link at Teesside Crown Court for a ten-minute during which no pleas were entered.

He is charged with murdering mother-of-three Lynne Freeman, 46, and Jodie Betteridge, 30.

On the evening of March 23, police were called to Mapleton Crescent, Redcar, where Mrs Freeman lived, and then seven minutes later to Ms Betteridge's home in Byland Close where she brought up three young children.

Family members watched the TV screens from the public gallery while Bennett, who mostly kept his head bowed, followed the proceedings.

The case was adjourned until June 22.