IPSWICH: Three teenagers were set to appear in court today charged with grievous bodily harm after allegedly attacking a man with a bottle.

The 15-year-olds were arrested after police are understood to have received reports of a spate of muggings, or attempted muggings, in the town.

The incidents are said to have occurred over the past few weeks, with the Foxhall Road area featuring prominently.

The boys are accused of striking a man with a bottle in Rosebery Road at around 6pm last Tuesday.Although the man was said to have been assaulted, nothing is believed to have been taken during the alleged attack.

One of the teenagers appeared before Ipswich magistrates accused of GBH and attempted robbery last Thursday. He was ordered to be detained in custody.

The remaining two defendants appeared before magistrates on Friday. The pair faced the same charges, plus a further charge of robbery relating to another alleged mugging in the town centre on February 11.

This offence is understood to involve an 18-year-old victim and is said to have taken place in the alleyway next to McDonald’s in Tavern Street.

One of the accused was detained in custody. The other was given conditional bail.

All three will re-appear at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court today.

Meanwhile, two other men have told police they were assaulted with a bottle by youths in an alleyway near Gladstone Road and the Co-op in Foxhall Road.

The incident is said to have taken place 30 minutes before the alleged attack in Rosebery Road.

The three youths have not been charged over this incident.

The police investigation into the robbery allegations reported to them over the past three weeks continues.

Anyone with information which could help the inquiry into any of the incidents should telephone 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Elsewhere, a 13-year-old girl has also been charged with GBH after a 19-year-old man was allegedly attacked with a metal pole in Lowestoft.

The man sustained bruising and swelling to his eye and cuts to his head and nose.

The girl is also accused of two counts of robbery and possessing an offensive weapon.

The victim and his 30-year-old friend are said to have been walking home from a night out when they were confronted by a group of youths on October 1.