Stowmarket and Stradbroke - Two men charged after business burglaries and GBH

Two men have been charged following burglaries at business premises in Stowmarket and Stradbroke, the latter of which involved a woman being run over by a car.

Police were called at 1.42am Thursday 30 July, to reports of a burglary at the BP Tothill garage, Stowmarket.

Male suspects travelling in a black Nissan vehicle had arrived at the premises a short time earlier. Entry to the shop was forced, using a brick to smash a window and they then stole a quantity of cigarettes, vapes and alcohol before fleeing in the vehicle.

This was followed by another incident around 90 minutes later, when police were called at just after 3.10am to reports of a burglary at a shop in Church Street, Stradbroke.

A brick was used to smash glass at the front of the building and the suspects began removing cigarettes, vapes and bottles of vodka and putting them in a black Nissan Qashqai.

A man and a woman then disturbed the offenders and tried to prevent them from leaving with the stolen items. The vehicle was then reversed into them, knocking them to the ground and the woman was then driven over before the car made off at speed.

Ambulance crews attended and the woman was taken to hospital for treatment, having sustained a number of injuries, including a suspected fracture to her hand and extensive bruising.

A third linked incident occurred at 12.55am on Thursday 30 July at a filling station in Bury St Edmunds, A car described as a dark-coloured Nissan Qashqai was filled with over £100 of fuel and then was driven off without payment being made.

At just after 5am, police located a 33-year-old man in Clapgate Lane, Ipswich and arrested him on suspicion of burglary. Later on Thursday evening, officers located a 39-year-old man in Ipswich and arrested him on suspicion of burglary. Both men were taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning.

Jake Laurie, 33, of Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich was subsequently charged with two counts of burglary and making off from a petrol station without paying.

Darrell Lambert, 39, of Lloyds Avenue, Ipswich was subsequently charged with causing grievous bodily harm, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, two counts of burglary, dangerous driving and making off from a petrol station without paying.

Both men appeared before Ipswich Magistrates Court on 1 August and were remanded into custody. They are due to appear 

before Ipswich Crown Court on 24 August.