Police hunt Hove gang linked with late night attacks

Between midnight and 3.30am on Saturday (February 11), four people reported being approached by a group made up of four or five men and women, all aged in their late teens to early twenties.

Police said in each case threats were made that they had a gun or a knife, although no weapons were seen, and demands for money and mobile phones were made.

Nothing was stolen but in two of the incidents violence was used.

The first incident happened in Cromwell Road at about 12.15am when a man walking home was approached and asked for money but he refused.

Then in Dyke Road at about 1am a man who had just got out of a taxi on his way home was approached by one of a group who sitting by a bus stop. The suspect told the man that he was going to rob him and that he had a gun, but after a brief altercation the man walked away unharmed.

At 1.30am a 45-year-old local man was walking in Dyke Road Park, very close to the bus stop in the previous incident. He was punched and kicked, sustaining facial and chest injuries, by a group who demanded his mobile phone but he did not have one with him, and the group went away.

The final incident was reported at 3.20am after two men walking home had been approached by a group who asked what they had, and began to attack them. One of the group claimed to have a knife, but did not produce one. After a brief struggle the group made off empty-handed and the two men were unhurt although one had damage to his glasses.

The main suspects are both described as white men. In the first three incidents the main suspect is described as being in his early 20’s, 6ft 2, of slim build with short dark hair.

The main suspect in the last incident was 5ft 7, and slim, wearing a light brown or grey knitted cardigan with a full length zip.

Detective Constable Julian Harrison-Jones said; “We are keen to speak to anyone who saw this group in the area in the early hours of Saturday, or who has any other information.

“You can contact us via [email protected], quoting serial 121 of 11/02, or by reporting online - or call 101.”

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.