A 22-year-old man has been charged with the rape and murder of an 89-year-old woman in her home in Tottenham, north London on Sunday.

Reece Dempster, of no fixed address, appeared at Highbury Corner magistrates court on Wednesday and is also charged with sexual assault by penetration and burglary as part of the same incident.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers previously stated they believed one or more suspects gained entry to the woman’s house at some point between Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

Appealing for information over the weekend, DCI Garry Moncrieff of Specialist Crime said: “The woman had clearly been assaulted and, as such, a murder investigation has been launched.

“I want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in and around Waltheof Gardens and the surrounding area on Saturday night or Sunday morning.”

In a statement released by the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday, the victim’s family said they had been left “completely shocked”, and described her as “a wonderful, beautiful woman, who was full of life”.

They added: “She always had something to talk about and was still hands-on with everything she did despite her age.

“She was extremely self-sufficient and would still cook all of her meals herself and get herself up and down her stairs.

“She was a sister, wife, auntie and dear friend to many and will be greatly missed.”