A MAN accused of stabbing his girlfriend’s mother to death has been remanded in custody ahead of his next court appearance.

Gary Simon Richard Thompson, 24, of Moorland View, Castleside, Consett, County Durham, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday.

He is accused of the murder of 53-year-old community activist Gillian Raine, who was attacked yards from her home in Coleridge Gardens, Dipton, County Durham, shortly after 7am on Monday. She died despite frantic efforts by emergency services to resuscitate her.

No application for bail was made and barristers agreed to prepare for a plea and case management hearing on April 15 when Mr Thompson will appear next.