A MAN was today (TUES) officially charged in Bulgaria with the rape and murder of ex-Altinkum expat Jan Bennett, it has emerged

Bulgarian prosecution authorities have indicted Ivan Nikolov (name change from earlier reports of Georgiev) with charges of raping and murdering the 67-year-old British national, the BTA news agency reported.

It said Nikolov is charged with raping the British pensioner in Malomir village, in the Yambol Region in southeastern Bulgaria, last Thursday night, and murdering her with extreme brutality to conceal the rape.

The BTA, quoting Yambol Regional Prosecution Office, said Nikolov has 10 sentences for various offences committed during the period 2002-2012.

His criminal record includes theft, drunk driving and driving without licence. His most recent prison term ended in December 2012, BTA said.

According to 24 Chasa news daily, in most of his court trials Nikolov, 40, pleaded guilty in order to win lower prison terms, which were in the range of four to 18 months.

A Bulgarian news network said it is expected that today the prosecution will submit a request for permanent detention of the suspect.

Mrs Bennett went missing after walking her dogs at 10pm last Thursday (July 30). Her body was later discovered dumped in bushes just 200 metres from her home in Malomir, the village she had made home with her disabled husband Nick, just three months ago.

The couple had lived in Altinkum for a number of years before departing the resort for pastures new in Yambol.

Her violent death has sent shockwaves through the expat communities in Altinkum and in Yambol.

The murder inquiry is looking into whether the incident was initially robbery-related.