Shoreham stabbing: Jury out in Jordan Bell trial

Jordan Bell denies a “grievous” attack as part of a group of four balaclava-clad men in Shoreham.

A group “burst in” to the garden of an “innocent” family in Nicolson Drive, where young woman Cerys Evans and her boyfriend Lewis Harrington were ordered to hand over cash.

Ms Evans was struck about the head, and as she screamed out, her father David Evans rushed out into the garden.

But Mr Evans was stabbed by a member of the gang as he “tussled” with the group of four, who later fled the scene.

Bell, aged 20, told Hove Crown Court he was groomed by a drugs gang since the age of 13 or 14, and feared reprisals.

A MAN is in hospital after being stabbed by a group of young men in a late-night attack...The assault happened in Nicholson Drive, Shoreham, last night...Police were called to the brutal incident shortly before 10pm...The victim is currently being

He said the “Albanian” group had previously beaten him up, so he felt he had no choice but to join the raid on the property in Nicolson Drive as he owed “more than £1,000” to the gang.

Bell told the court he was “distraught” to later learn there had been a stabbing, but said he himself was not one of the two men using a weapon or a knife.

He also denied having any intention of hurting anyone there.

But Mr Harrington recognised a “distinctive” Gucci belt from someone who he says attacked Ms Evans. The item belonged to Bell, and blood from Mr Evans was also found on his hooded top.

Richard Hearnden cross-examined Bell, and said that on Bell’s description, he was not much use on the raid if he were merely standing to one side while two “baddies” did all the threatening and violence.

Read more on this story:

• Young man accused over role in 'terrifying' gang raid and stabbing

• Shoreham stabbing trial - Jordan Bell says he was scared of drugs gang

The prosecutor suggested it was in fact a raid by Bell and his young friends, and listed the initials RG, JB and SP as Bell’s accomplices, a claim Bell denied.

Mr Hearnden asked Bell why he had not tried to run away at any stage, and questioned the young man about why, if he owed money to the Albanian gang, he simply didn’t hand back the clothing and trainers they had apparently bought for him.

And the prosecutor also said Bell could have paid them from a labouring job, or sold his iPhone.

“Why was this gang so generous to you?” The prosecutor asked.

“I don’t know. I can’t explain it, I was naive,” Bell replied.

Jordan Bell denies stabbing and violence during a gang raid on a property in Nicolson Drive, Shoreham

“You are told about some sort of hit or robbery they are going to do. They do all the threatening. They produce the knife. They punch Cerys Evans in the face and demand money from Lewis Harrington.

"They are the ones who stab David Evans. You weren’t doing anything they could not do themselves… this defence is just rubbish. It’s a tissue of lies isn’t it? It’s something you have made up. What do you say?” Mr Hearnden asked.

“That’s not accurate,” Bell replied.

The jury has been sent out in the case at Hove Crown Court.

Bell, formerly of Grafton Gardens, Sompting, denies inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, aggravated burglary, and possession of an offensive weapon in public.

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