Man detained after being charged over robbery on Ipswich’s Chantry estate

A 22-year-old man has been remanded in custody after being charged with robbery and possession of an offensive weapon following an incident on Ipswich’s Chantry estate.

Patrick Butler, of Bow Road in east London, was arrested around 9.55pm on Tuesday on suspicion of robbery.

Police were called at 8.30pm on February 1 to reports that three men forced their way into a house on Hawthorn Drive, demanding money from the occupants and threatening them with a handgun.

The men left the house taking a quantity of money and made off in a car towards Tesco pursued by the victim, Stuart McConnachie, in his car.

The two cars were subsequently involved in a collision on Hawthorn Drive, where Mr McConnochie reported that the gun was fired before the offenders drove off.

The incident led to Hawthorn Drive being sealed off until the next morning.

Patrick Butler was taken into custody at the Martlesham Police Investigation Centre and was interviewed before being charged with robbery and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

He was detained and appeared before Ipswich Magistrates this morning where he was remanded in custody ahead of his next court date on April 14.