THE boyfriend of Natalie Janiak, the student found strangled to death in an alley in Wilmington, has appeared before magistrates charged with her murder.

Jobless Alan Dalby, aged 21, from south east London, was arrested by police early on Thursday morning.

He was later charged with murdering the 18-year-old, an art student from Humber Road, Westcombe Park.

Dalby, of Peachum Road, Westcombe Park, wearing a blue short sleeve shirt, spoke only to confirm his name and address when he appeared at Dartford Magistrates' Court on Friday.

He was remanded in custody to Maidstone Crown Court for a date to be fixed for his trial.

Natalie had been out with friends in the Royal Standard pub in Blackheath on Friday, February 15, when she disappeared.

Her body was found by a man walking his dog through the alley off Capel Place at 7.40am the next morning.