Tributes have been paid to a 23 year-old Homerton schoolteacher, who was found dead on Christmas Eve at a Georgian mansion house hotel.

Hackney Gazette: GV of Cardinal Pole Catholic School, of 205 Morning Lane.GV of Cardinal Pole Catholic School, of 205 Morning Lane. (Image: Archant)

The body of Katie Locke was discovered at the four-star Theobalds Park Hotel in Hertfordshire, a grade II listed Georgian mansion set in 55 acres of parkland.

Miss Locke had joined Cardinal Pole, a Roman Catholic secondary school in Morning Lane, as a history and politics teacher in September.

Carl Langdell, 26, a trainee lawyer of Roundmoor Drive, Waltham Cross, was charged with her murder on Christmas Day and has been remanded in custody.

Headteacher at Cardinal Pole, Jane Heffernan, said: “Katie was an exceptional young teacher of history and politics; an outstanding practitioner and caring form teacher.

“As a school community we are shocked at the news of her death and will greatly miss a highly respected and much loved member of staff. “Katie, her family and friends remain in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. May she rest in peace.”

In a statement released by police, Miss Locke’s parents John and Jennifer Locke, said their future “has been stolen”.

“As a family we are distraught, in shock and totally devastated,” they said.

“Katie worked hard and loved her job as a teacher. In what little spare time she had she enjoyed sports. There was not a bad bone in Katie’s body.”

Mr Langdell, a BPP Law School student who founded Langdell Legal Associates in August according to his CV, is due to appear at St Albans Crown Court on Friday January 8.