A man accused of murdering his six-year-old daughter blew a kiss to the girl's mother as he was taken into custody after being refused bail.

Ben Butler has been remanded in custody accused of the murder of his six year-old daughter Ellie.

Mr Butler was denied bail at a hearing at the Old Bailey this morning.

He was charged with the murder of Ellie Butler on Tuesday.

Ellie died from head injuries after being found collapsed at their home in Westover Close, on Sutton’s Shanklin Estate, in October last year.

Dressed in a grey suit, a white shirt and no tie, Mr Butler looked solemn in court as it was discussed whether to grant him bail.

He blew a kiss to Ellie's mother Jennie Gray as he was led from the dock by guards and taken into custody. She was seen to return the gesture.

Mr Butler will next appear at the court on May 29 to enter a plea.

Reporting restrictions were put in place at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Tuesday that had prevented the identification of Mr Butler and Ellie.

But the restrictions were not carried over to the crown court this morning after a successful challenge to not keep the order in place by the Sutton Guardian.

It means Mr Butler and Ellie can now be identified in media reports about the case.


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