Saltdean Man Describes Terror as Sword-Carrying Stranger Attempts Home Entry
A 58-year-old Saltdean resident says he endured 22 minutes of fear when a man carrying what appeared to be a sword tried to enter his home early on Sunday morning.
Incident at Saltdean Home
A Saltdean householder has described his distress after a man attempted to enter his property carrying what he thought was a sword. Nick Skelton, 58, was asleep when his dog's barking alerted him to the intrusion at around 5am on Sunday, 1 November.
Mr Skelton checked his security camera and saw a man outside trying to gain access to the house. The man was swiping a card on the door and pulling at the handle. He also removed the ring doorbell camera from the wall. Mr Skelton immediately called Sussex Police.
"We were both terrified. It looked like he had a samurai sword," Mr Skelton said. "It was 22 minutes of horror."
Police Response and Investigation
Police arrested the man on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and criminal damage to a property. However, no further action was taken after the investigation concluded.
According to correspondence seen by The Argus, officers determined that the weapon was a replica wakizashi sword, a type worn by samurai in feudal Japan, and that it "had no sharp edge to it". Police also noted that minimal damage had been caused to the property and that the suspect had no previous convictions.
Resident's Concerns
Despite the outcome, Mr Skelton remains frustrated with how the matter was handled. He believes the case warrants further investigation given the distress caused to him and his lodger.
"He was off his head drunk, but that's not an excuse," Mr Skelton said. "He should at least have been charged with being drunk and disorderly. It doesn't matter if he thought he was at his own house, every burglar could say that. The whole thing is nonsense."
The incident has had a lasting impact on Mr Skelton. He described struggling with sleep since the event, saying he was "so disturbed" by what happened and spent 22 minutes holding the door handle from behind to keep the man out.
"We were terrorised by it," he said. "I didn't sleep at all last night. I can't just let this go."
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