Man charged with killing girl, 13

Sophie Comins had been strangled

A man has been charged with murdering his partner's 13-year-old daughter, who was found strangled at their Hull home.

Steven Joseph Pollard, 32, of Moorfoot Close, on the Bransholme Estate, is due to appear before magistrates in Hull, Humberside Police said.

Sophie Jade Comins' body was found by her mother, Mandy, in an upstairs bedroom on Saturday evening.

Mr Pollard was arrested at the address but was initially treated in hospital before being taken to a police station.

Police and paramedics were called to the house at about 1800 GMT on Saturday.

A post-mortem examination conducted the following day indicated that Sophie had died from "manual strangulation".

A police spokesman said family members had been seen by specially trained officers and were being cared for by relatives.