Elderly residents have been left terrified after two men were hospitalised in a late-night stab-|bing.

Four men were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the double-stabbing in Oakhurst Gardens, Rustington, on Friday.

Police arrived at the sheltered housing development near Littlehampton at 9.18pm as paramedics were treating two men – one inside a house and one outside - for stab wounds.

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An elderly woman who didn’t want to be named over fear of repercussions said: “It was late at night and there was police and paramedics everywhere.

 

“The road was covered in blood. I saw one man run across the road screaming for help.

“He thought he was going to die because he’d been stabbed. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Gareth Healey, 22, and an unnamed 47-year-old man from Rustington, were taken to hospital with critical injuries that were initially feared to be life-threatening.

Healey, unemployed, of Meadowside, Angmering, was due to appear at Worthing Magistrates’ Court this morning charged with attempted murder.

The 47-year-old, who is still in hospital recovering from multiple stab wounds, was also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Two other men, aged 44 and 52, both from Rustington, were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The 44-year-old has been bailed until October 7. No further action is being taken against the 52-year-old.

Neighbours believed the men were staying in a property used by members of the homeless community.

The daughter of a 91-year-old woman, who lives just yards from where the attack occurred, said her mother had been left terrified.

She said: “When you are old, you can’t run or defend yourself. You feel like a snail in a shell.

“This complex was originally meant as sheltered housing for the elderly but it changed so other people could also live there including students, families and single, older disadvantaged men.

“My mother has been complaining about it for some time – now I can understand why. It’s so frightening.”

Littlehampton and Rustington Housing Society Ltd, the managing firm behind the complex, did not respond to calls yesterday.

Detective Inspector Rob Walker from West Sussex CID said it was “immediately apparent” that a very serious incident had occurred at the property after victims and others at the house were seen covered in blood.

He said: “Initial indications are that those involved all knew each other, but there is some confusion as to who was in or around the house at the time and we would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information about it.”

Call Sussex Police on 101, e-mail contact.centre@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting Operation Heron or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.