Man charged and second arrested after violent aggravated burglary in Brighton

Friday, 11 March 2022 10:00

Detectives in Brighton have charged a man with a number of violent offences following an aggravated burglary in which several people were injured.

Lee Witts, 46, of Newtonhill in Aberdeenshire, has been charged with aggravated burglary, robbery, grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of causing actual bodily harm following the attack on Saturday (March 5).

He was one of two men reported to have forced his way into a house in Lower Bevendean Avenue in Brighton at around 6.25pm.

All three occupants – two men and a woman – were violently assaulted, causing serious injuries including broken bones and, in one instance, being knocked unconscious.

The woman’s purse and mobile phone were stolen in the attack, before both suspects fled the scene.

One of the victims managed to escape to a nearby convenience store, where they were able to call police.

Officers attended and carried out a swift investigation through which Witts was identified as a suspect.

He was arrested 12 hours after the incident, charged and at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (March 8) was remanded in custody pending a hearing on April 5.

A second suspect – a 25-year-old man from Brighton – was also arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary on Wednesday (March 9) and remains in police custody.

Detective Sergeant Rob Lewis said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the victims, who all suffered serious physical and emotional trauma from what was a sustained assault.

“I would like to thank them for their support in helping to identify and arrest two suspects within such a short space of time.

“We are pleased to have been able to bring charges in this instance and await the outcome of court proceedings.”

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