Hailsham Stabbing Latest

A 16-year-old boy was tonight charged with the murder of a young father, police said.

The teenager, who is accused of killing 25-year-old Darren Croxton, will appear before magistrates at Eastbourne Youth Court tomorrow morning.

Mr Croxton, 25, was found collapsed in Bramble Drive, Hailsham, East Sussex, at about 4.30pm on Sunday from injuries which Sussex Police believe were sustained in a pre-planned fight in woods nearby.

Mr Croxton, who lived in Hailsham and leaves a daughter, was pronounced dead at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on Monday morning.

Thirteen arrests were made by detectives in connection with Mr Croxton's murder, a Sussex Police spokeswoman said.

A 20-year-old man, from Hastings, arrested this morning, and a 17-year-old boy, arrested yesterday, have both been released on conditional bail.

An 18-year-old man, who was arrested yesterday, and a 16-year-old boy, arrested on Monday, have both been bailed until February 22.

Five teenage boys, aged 13, two of 14, one 15 and a 16-year-old, who were held on suspicion of attempted murder, have been ruled out of the inquiry.

Three men - aged 20, 23 and 27 - were also released from custody with no further action being taken. They are now being treated as witnesses, police said.
 
Police are continuing with their appeal for information. Please call 101 quoting Op Consul or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 if you have any information that could help detectives with