A man from Aberdeenshire has been charged with a number of violent offences following an aggravated burglary in which several people were injured.
Lee Witts, 46, of Newtonhill in Aberdeenshire, was charged with aggravated burglary, robbery, grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of causing actual bodily harm following the attack last Saturday (March 5).
Police say he and another man were reported to have forced their way into a house in Lower Bevendean Road 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.
Witts was quickly identified as a suspect and arrested 12 hours after the incident.
He was charged at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (March 8) and 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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