Jail for man who attacked 77-year-old and police

A man has been jailed for five years for an attack that left a 77-year-old man in hospital with serious injuries.

Joseph Charlott, 22 and from Deepdene Gardens in Hastings, East Sussex, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday.

He had been convicted of four offences, including grievous bodily harm with intent and attacking an emergency worker, after he tried to fight off three officers while being arrested.

Charlott will also have to serve three years on extended licence.

Police said Charlott had smashed his way into the man's motorhome in Malvern Way, Hastings, on 12 May 2023.

When the victim phoned the police he was knocked to the floor and repeatedly kicked, leaving him with injuries that included a fractured shoulder blade, ribs and chest bone.

Charlott was eventually arrested in August 2023, and during his arrest he jumped out of a second storey window, before attacking the three officers.

He was also convicted of possessing an offensive weapon and criminal damage.

Temporary Det Sgt Jake O’Reilly said: “This level of violence against a vulnerable member of the public protecting his property and then on police officers performing their lawful duty is indefensible.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the many teams across Sussex Police who worked tirelessly to investigate, locate, arrest and charge Charlott, and I hope his sentence will offer some closure for the victims.”

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