Kent Messenger Maidstone

Charge after woman left tied up for two days

Police apprehend suspects in aggravated burglary case

- By Ed McConnell emcconnell@thekmgroup. co.uk

A man has been charged with aggravated burglary after a woman was attacked and left tied up for 48 hours in her own home.

Billy Williams, 28, of Smarden Road, Ashford, was arrested in Hythe last Tuesday, more than two weeks since the incident took place at around 6pm on Easter Sunday.

A second man from Headcorn was arrested separetely and bailed.

The victim was approached outside her house in Staplehurs­t Road, Frittenden by a cyclist who asked her for water.

When she returned with some the suspect leapt over her fence, bundled her inside the house and restrained her before £100 and other valuables were stolen. During the ordeal she was attacked, with a bottle of alcohol poured over her head. Police found her bound hand and foot, and gagged, two days later. She had been left with no food or water.

She was taken to hospital and has since been discharged. It was the fourth aggravated burglary in the Weald within the last eight months - although police are not linking the raids. Investigat­ors are also appealing for the owner of a bicycle to contact them. The black mountain

bike was recovered by officers in Staplehurs­t on Saturday, April 10.

DCI Neil Kimber of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorat­e said: “During the course of inquiries into this incident our investigat­ors were alerted by a member of the public to the

abandoned bike.

“We suspect it may be stolen and might be of relevance to our investigat­ion. We are urging the owner to call the appeal line.” Anybody with informatio­n should call Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting reference 46/56590/21.

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 ??  ?? A computer-generated image of a man police want to speak to about the burglary in Frittenden and the abandoned bike found in Staplehurs­t
A computer-generated image of a man police want to speak to about the burglary in Frittenden and the abandoned bike found in Staplehurs­t

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