Family pay tribute to dead woman

The family of Denise Skilbeck, whose body was found in her Newark flat on March 16, have released an emotional tribute.

Miss Skilbeck’s parents Ingrid and John Skilbeck, of Bicester, Oxfordshire, said in a joint statement: “Our whole family are totally devastated after receiving the tragic news of the loss of Denise’s life.

“She was a lovely girl with a bright and prosperous future and we feel it’s such a waste she was taken ahead of her life.

“She brought joy to all her family and friends with her fun loving sense of humour and kind-hearted caring nature.

“Our family would like to thank everyone for all their offers of support and kind comments at this time.

“We are so totally distraught and respectfully request we are left in peace to grieve.”

Miss Skilbeck, 31, was found dead in her flat in The Wharf area of Newark. A postmortem found she died from a head injury.

Mr Gary Frederick Spalding, 34, of The Wharf, Newark, has been charged with her murder and has been remanded into custody.

A preliminary hearing is due to take place at Nottingham Crown Court on April 4.