A man has denied the murder of an artist who went missing while walking her dog near a beach.

Harrison Lawrence-van Pooss, from Margate, is accused of killing Claire Knights, from Upstreet, near Canterbury, in Minnis Bay, Birchington, on August 23.

Dressed in a grey sweater, the 20-year-old appeared at Canterbury Crown Court remotely today.

He spoke only to confirm his name and enter a not-guilty plea before a packed public gallery.

The former pub chef is expected to stand trial at the same court on June 4, with a pre-trial review set for May 23.

Ms Knights, 54, was reported missing on August 23, prompting a widespread search by emergency services, family and friends.

Her springer spaniel called Zebulon was found on August 24 running loose on the beach, while her Suzuki car was found abandoned in nearby Shuart Lane, St Nicholas at Wade.

The same day, Lawrence-van Pooss was arrested on suspicion of murder and charged.

Ms Knights’ body was found in a ditch in Minnis Bay on August 25, having suffered blunt-force injuries.

An inquest at County Hall in Maidstone last September heard Ms Knights’ family found her while conducting their own search alongside police officers and other emergency services.

A post-mortem investigation gave her cause of death as drowning and blunt-force trauma.

Ms Knights’ family described her as “a trailblazer in life.”

“Claire was a loving mum, partner, daughter and sister,” they said in September.

“An amazing contemporary artist, a trailblazer in life. She loved animals and in particular, her springer spaniel, Zebulon.

“We, the family, are struggling to come to terms with the fact she is no longer with us.

“We wish to thank friends and the community for their active support and kind words.”

Last month, Ms Knights’ family held a tribute at Birchington beach, where she enjoyed swimming, to mark her 55th birthday.

The beach was covered in 98 pairs of red shoes to highlight the lives lost in the past year in cases of violence against women.

Lawrence-van Pooss and Ms Knights were not known to each other.