A MAN from Yate has been charged with murder.

Jamie Lomax, 41, of Chargrove, Yate, appeared before Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Monday, December 4, in connection with the death of Dean Sawyer.

Officers from Avon and Somerset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team launched a murder inquiry on Sunday, November 26, after Mr Sawyer’s body was discovered at his flat on City Road, in St Paul’s, Bristol.

Lomax was remanded in custody on Monday at the magistrates’ court.

And at a further hearing on Tuesday, at Bristol Crown Court, his bail application was refused.

Lomax’s next court date has now been set for March 16, 2018.

Mr Sawyer, 43, had allegedly been the victim of a serious assault and police believe his body had lain undiscovered for up to two weeks.

A former drug addict, Mr Sawyer founded the Positive Causes community project, based in Old Market, Bristol, which helps the unemployed find work and assists homeless people.

Avon and Somerset Police launched an appeal for information last week and Lomax was arrested over the weekend.

Detective Inspector Mike Buck said: “The support we’ve had from the public has been fantastic and I’d like to thank everyone who called in following our earlier appeal.”