A YOUNG man has gone on trial accused of a “terrifying” burglary where a man was stabbed in front of his daughter.
Jordan Bell denies inflicting grievous bodily harm as part of a gang of four balaclava-clad raiders in Shoreham.
The 20-year-old allegedly burst into the garden of David Evans in Nicolson Drive and attacked Mr Evan’s daughter Cerys Evans and her partner Lewis Harrington in a garden summer house.
She screamed for help when she saw one man had a knife and the other a metal pole.
Mr Evans heard the commotion after men kicked in the door of the wooden summer house at the property as Ms Evans and Mr Harrington watched television together.
He fought with the men but was punched in the head, and then described how he was stabbed.
At Hove Crown Court, Bell is on trial accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, aggravated burglary, and possession of an offensive weapon in public.
He denies the charges, which were put to him over an incident on February 11 last year.
Brighton UK 31 May 2013 - Hove Crown Court .Photograph taken by Simon Dack.SD310513C3..
Richard Hearnden, prosecuting, said Bell was among the group of four who clambered into the garden at Mr Evans’ address.
But the other three men have not been identified.
Mr Hearnden told the jury that Bell denies being the man to inflict the injuries, and said he was “forced” to attend the property with a “gang of Albanians” whom he owed money to.
The scene in Nicolson Drive, Shoreham. Jordan Bell is accused of breaking into the home of David Evans in Shoreham and stabbing the man in front of his daughter as part of an aggravated gang burlgary
The prosecutor said: “This trial concerns a terrifying incident which occurred in February last year.
“Masked intruders burst into the garden of a family’s home in Shoreham. Those intruders hit a woman in the face so hard that blood was pouring from her.
“They stabbed her father. Both were completely innocent people who seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
The scene in Nicolson Drive, Shoreham. Jordan Bell is accused of breaking into the home of David Evans in Shoreham and stabbing the man in front of his daughter as part of an aggravated gang burlgary
Mr Hearnden said the summer house was an outbuilding, like a shed, in the garden at the property which had its own electricity.
He said: “All of a sudden the glass and timber doors flew open, they had been kicked in off their hinges.
“Two men were outside hovering, and two men were standing opposite them wearing balaclavas.
The scene in Nicolson Drive, Shoreham. Jordan Bell is accused of breaking into the home of David Evans in Shoreham and stabbing the man in front of his daughter as part of an aggravated gang burlgary
“One had a knife in his right hand, the other man had a metal pole. They shouted ‘where’s the money?’”
When David Evans, known as Dai, approached, he was attacked with a knife and suffered a stab wound to his arm and chest. One wound punctured his lung, the prosecutor said.
Jordan Bell is accused of breaking into the home of David Evans in Shoreham and stabbing the man in front of his daughter as part of an aggravated gang burlgary
Bell, formerly of Grafton Gardens, Sompting, denies the charges. The trial continues this week before Her Honour Judge Christine Henson QC.
The defendant is represented by barrister Rebecca Upton.
Jurors were told the case is expected to last this week, but may run into a second week.
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