Woman and man are charged after child's body is found at home

James Thorpe, 32, and Sophie Dean, 31, appeared in court on Monday accused of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body.

Sophie Dean, 31, and James Thorpe, 32, have been charged with preventing a lawful and decent burial of a dead body after officers found the body of a child after welfare concerns

Sarah Hooper | Live News Reporter Published August 10, 2026 10:42pm Updated August 10, 2026 10:42pm The child was discovered in a home in Essex (Picture: Shutterstock) A man and a woman have been charged with preventing lawful burial after the body of a child was discovered at an address in Southend, Essex. Officers at

A 31-YEAR-OLD man and a woman, aged 32, have been charged with preventing a lawful burial after a child's body was found at a house. Cops discovered the body at a property in Southend, Essex, on August 7, following a welfare concern raised by social services. Sophie Dean, 31, of Coates House, Kenway, Southend, and Jame