Father of hotel death children on paedophile charges

The father of two children found dead in the Spanish resort of Lloret de Mar today made a brief appearance at court on child sex charges.

Martin Smith, 45, was extradited from Barcelona yesterday to face 13 charges of child sex offences said to have been committed in the Cumbria area between 1995 and 2005.

At Carlisle Magistrates' Court today, he faced six counts of gross indecency with or towards a girl aged under 16 between April 30, 1995 and February 1, 2001; six counts of rape of a girl aged under 16 between February 1, 2001 and April 29, 2005, and one count of attempted rape of a girl aged under 16 between April 30, 1997 and February 1, 2001.

No pleas were taken and Smith was remanded in custody until June 7 when he is due to appear at Carlisle Crown Court.