Knife Attack in Lockdown Dispute Ends in Guilty Verdict
Ian Bryan, 58, unemployed and from St Margaret’s Road, was convicted at Brighton Crown Court on Tuesday, November 3, after a tense week-long trial.
He was found guilty of wounding with intent and attempted wounding with intent following a violent clash on April 22.
Lockdown Dispute Sparks Brutal Assault
- Two victims, aged 17 and 32, were working next door on engineering jobs.
- Earlier that evening, Bryan confronted them, accusing them of breaking Covid-19 lockdown rules.
- The victims left shortly after 8pm, but Bryan reported them to police for breaching restrictions.
- They returned to their accommodation at 8.35pm.
At 9.26pm, Bryan called a non-emergency police line warning that a crime was about to happen. Then he launched an attack.
Terrifying Doorstep Stabbing
The victims heard loud bangs on their front door. The 17-year-old opened it – only to be slashed in the neck by Bryan.
His 32-year-old colleague fought back but was also injured, though less seriously. Both fled outside and called for an ambulance immediately.
Police arrived to find Bryan armed with two knives. He refused to drop the weapons and was tasered before being arrested.
Trial Outcome and Police Response
The teenager needed emergency surgery at Royal Sussex County Hospital. Thankfully, he made a full recovery.
Bryan was treated for injuries sustained during the attack and charged with two counts of attempted murder, later downgraded to wounding charges after a unanimous jury verdict.
He remains in custody ahead of sentencing on December 21.
Chief Superintendent Tanya Jones said: “We acknowledge the observations made at the trial around the response to the incident by Sussex Police. Due to contact with Ian Bryan before the incident, it was referred at an early stage as a matter of course to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and we await their report.”
