Neighbours said June Fox-Roberts, 65, had been dismembered in the gruesome attack. Luke Deeley, 25, is accused of killing the company director. Police say he was not known to her. The mother-of-three was found in her home near Pontypridd, South Wales, on Sunday afternoon. Days earlier, Deeley had been reported missing from his home three miles away.

       He appeared before Merthyr magistrates yesterday and spoke only to confirm his date of birth and address.

       He was remanded in custody to appear at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday. He gave an address of a flat in Cardiff, and a family home in Glyntaff, Pontypridd.

       Detective Superintendant Darren George, the senior investigating officer, said: “The charging of a 25-year-old local man is quite clearly a significant development in the investigation and I hope this goes some way in offering reassurance to the local community.

       “There are currently no known links between June and the person charged.”

       He added: “My thoughts remain with June and her family who we continue to support through specially trained officers.”

       Deeley was arrested two days after the discovery of the body.

       Divorcee Mrs Fox-Roberts had been a director of her family IT firm – but was also a renowned cook who had run a bakery nearby.

       A statement from her family said: “We are in utter shock about the death of our mother. Her murder will never make sense. She was a kind-hearted, generous woman. We will never be the same. We are heartbroken.”