A man who threatened two people with a machete in broad daylight in Brighton has been jailed for more than four years.
Theo Van Der Vlugt, 21, of Washington Street, Brighton, was initially arrested on 17 January as part of an investigation into drug offences. He was released on bail while officers continued their enquiries into his suspected involvement in supplying Class A drugs.
However, while on bail, Van Der Vlugt was involved in a violent incident in Dyke Road on 7 April. Armed with a machete, he approached two men and swung the weapon at them, narrowly missing and avoiding serious injury.
The attack was reported to police, but Van Der Vlugt had fled the scene by the time officers arrived. A swift investigation led to his arrest four days later at his home, where he was also found in possession of both Class A and Class B drugs.
He was charged with:
- Threatening a person with a blade in a public place
- Four counts of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug
- Possession of Class A drugs
- Possession of Class B drugs
Van Der Vlugt was remanded in custody after appearing at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 14 April. He later pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to four years and two months’ imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court on 15 May.
PC Annie Lees, the investigating officer, said:
“This was a complex investigation involving a violent knife incident that could very easily have ended in tragedy.
As well as this, Van Der Vlugt was also operating a drugs line into Brighton, causing significant harm to our communities.
As this case concludes, we’ve not only removed a dangerous offender from the streets, but also disrupted part of the criminal network he was fuelling.
We would also like to thank everyone who supported the investigation, providing the key information that assisted us in reaching this outcome.”
