A MAN has appeared in court charged with the murder of antiques dealer and former York businessman Peter Battle.

Graham Richardson, 26, of Riverside View in Norton, appeared at Beverley Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, accused of murdering 56-year-old Mr Battle, who was found dead in his bungalow in Full Sutton on February 7.

Richardson, who spoke only to confirm his name, age and address, was charged with the murder of Mr Battle at Whisker Cottage between December 29, 2012, and January 1.

He was also charged with one count of theft of coins of a value unknown at the same address between December 29, 2012, and January 28.

Richardson, who did not show any signs of emotion during the appearance, was remanded in custody until his next hearing at Hull Crown Court on Wednesday.

Mr Battle worked as an antiques dealer and was a well-known figure in local auction houses and a prolific user of the online auction site eBay.

He had formerly been a businessman in York, running a computer business called Ace 4 Computers in Acomb and working as director for a marketing company in Clifton Moor, called Barton Trott Battle. Former friend and colleague Lez Briddon, of Bell Farm in York, described Mr Battle as a man who “got on well with everybody and was always a happy man”.

• Humberside Police have released images of a laptop believed to have been stolen from Mr Battle’s address. The computer is an Advent 2000 laptop.

Anyone with information about the laptop or who thinks they may have seen it in the last couple of months should phone 01377 208989 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.