A 13-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) following a stabbing incident in Eastbourne.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 9 April.
The charges relate to an incident on Saturday evening, 5 April, when police were called to reports of an assault on board the number 1 bus service in Cornfield Road, near the Co-op store, at around 7.40pm.
A teenage boy was reportedly approached by a group of other boys and was assaulted. He sustained an injury consistent with a stabbing and was taken to hospital. His injuries were not life-threatening, and he has since been discharged.
The 13-year-old was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery and GBH. Following police questioning, he has now been formally charged with:
Grievous bodily harm
Attempted robbery
Possession of a bladed article in a public place
Attempting to pervert the course of justice
He has been bailed and is due to appear at Brighton Youth Court on 29 April.
Sussex Police also confirmed that two other teenagers—a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old—have been arrested in connection with the incident. Both have been bailed with strict conditions while enquiries continue.
Detective Inspector Sophie McGarel said: “This has been a complex and fast-moving investigation, where we have provided support to the victim and sought to ensure public safety as our first priority.
“We understand the public’s concern about this incident, and officers have conducted increased patrols in the town centre to provide reassurance.
“We continue to appeal for witnesses or anyone with relevant information to come forward, and urge the public not to speculate online, as it may jeopardise legal proceedings.”
