Two men charged with Brighton motorcycle theft

At 2.15pm on Wednesday (February 3), officers were called to Stanmer Villas following a report of men in a white transit van taking a motorcycle from outside a property.

Police said the victim - a 55-year-old man - attempted to prevent the motorcycle being taken and was assaulted, suffering injuries to his face and body which required hospital treatment.

The suspects drove off towards Stanmer Park at speed and the motorcycle was reportedly ejected from the vehicle.

Police said the suspect van continued in the direction of the A27 before being located by officers with assistance from the Gatwick Firearms Unit and the Dog Unit in Lingfield, Surrey.

The Specialist Enforcement Unit were also involved in the response.

Police said two suspects decamped the vehicle and were tracked across muddy fields before being arrested.

Following an investigation from Brighton CID and the Neighbourhood Response Team the suspects were charged.

Police said Jack Jones, 18, of Framlingham Crescent, London, was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and assault thereby causing actual bodily harm. Jack Winstanley, 18, of Widdicombe Way, Brighton, was charged with theft of a motor vehicle.

They were both remanded in custody to appear before Brighton Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Friday, February 5).

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.