An 18-year-old man from Stowmarket has been charged with eight offences, including two assaults on police officers, along with assaults on two other people, following incidents in the town.
Police were called at 8.25pm on Wednesday 3 June to reports that two 17-year-old girls had been threatened by three males near to Stowmarket Railway Station.
The girls reported that they were then followed by the group into Creeting Road West, where one of the males brandished a machete at the girls before striking one of them on the leg with it, but not causing any injury. This same victim was then punched in the head three times.
Officers immediately attended and located the suspects in the vicinity of Newton Road and in the process of attempting to arrest the males, two officers were assaulted.
One female officer sustained a fractured eye socket, a broken jaw and swelling, while a male officer sustained a cut to their face. Both required hospital treatment and were later discharged following treatment.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of assault at the scene, but two other suspects managed to evade officers after being pursued on foot.
Following further police enquiries, at around 3am yesterday morning, Thursday 4 June, an 18-year-old man and a 21-year-old man were also arrested in Stowmarket in connection with the incident. All three were taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre for questioning.
Police are also investigating another assault which took place in Ipswich Road shortly before the events above, at around 8am, whereby a 56-year-old man was punched in the face and a bottle was thrown at his car windscreen. This attack is being linked with the vandalism of two vehicles in the town on Friday 22 May, which both had their windscreens smashed.
Dylan Craig, aged 18, has subsequently been charged with the following eight offences:
– Assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent (in respect of the female officer)
– Assault causing actual bodily harm (in respect of the male officer)
– Assault by beating (in respect of the 17-year-old girl)
– Possession of a bladed article â a machete â in a public place
– Assault by beating (in respect of the 56-year-old man)
– Three counts of criminal damage (in respect of vandalism to two vehicles on 22 May & a further vehicle on 3 June).
Craig appeared before magistrates in Ipswich via video link this morning, Friday 5 June, where he was remanded in custody pending a hearing before Ipswich Crown Court this afternoon.
The 16-year-old boy and the 21-year-old man who were also arrested, were released without charge and face no further police action at this time in respect of the assaults. However, the 16-year-old boy remains under investigation on suspicion of possession of cannabis.