Jia Ashton police charge Derbyshire man with murder

Jia Ashton was last seen leaving work at Thorntons

A man has been charged with the murder of Thorntons worker Jia Ashton.

Mrs Ashton, 25, was found dead from head injuries in woods in Somercotes, Derbyshire, on 13 March, three days after she went missing.

David Simmonds, 21, was arrested on Thursday at his flat in Derby Road, Heanor. Officers later searched a house in Blenheim Avenue, Swanwick.

Mr Simmonds will appear at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court on Saturday.

Mrs Ashton was last seen leaving the Thorntons factory and is known to have walked into Sleetmoor Woods, along a path known locally as the "yellow brick road".

After the discovery of her body, a £20,000 reward was offered for information to catch her killer.