Stephen-Alan Nicholson, 24, charged with failing to give Facebook password to police

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A suspect in the murder of schoolgirl Lucy McHugh has appeared in court charged with failing to provide detectives investigating her death with his Facebook password.

Stephen-Alan Nicholson was remanded in custody at Southampton magistrates court where he appeared charged under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa).

The offence carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment.

The court was told that the allegation involved the 24-year-old, of no fixed address, refusing to provide his Facebook password to detectives investigating any private messages sent between himself and the 13-year-old girl.

Lucy’s body was found in woodland near Southampton Sports Centre on 26 July. She had been stabbed to death.