Bridgwater crime: Canal assault and Spaxton kidnapping – everything we know so far – Somerset Live

Serious assaults, kidnappings, false information, a crime scene investigation and a man in a canal.

It's a lot to get your head around so we've compiled a story on everything we know so far about a string of crimes and investigations last week.

A lot of things have happened in the Bridgwater area over the last week, and lot of misinformation has been reported, but Somerset Live can confirm that the police are investigating two serious assaults in 24 hours.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary have said that at this time, the two incidents are not being connected, and that there will be an "increased police presence" in certain areas while investigations continue.

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The first sign of unrest came when officers were seen breaking into a flat in Taunton in the early hours of Wednesday February 15.

Two police cars and a crime scene investigation van were parked outside the flat on Canal Road all day, and officers and investigators were seen coming in and out of the flat.

According to local reports, police officers were seen breaking into the property, situated above Goddard and Family Garage Services, at around 1am, but the owner of the garage claimed that the flat had nothing to do with the business underneath.

A police spokesperson confirmed at the time that the probe was part of an ongoing investigation into an assault.

It has since come to light that this crime scene investigation was connected with an incident "in the Bridgwater area" on Valentine's Day (February 14) and has led to a man who lived at the Taunton property, being charged with wounding and kidnap.

Police confirmed yesterday that Squire was arrested following a serious assault and kidnapping "in the Bridgwater area", which led to the victim knocking on the door of "a nearby house in Spaxton".

DS Mark Probert thanked the local community for their help in the investigation, and confirmed that the area would see "an increase police presence while the investigation continues".

A second man was arrested in connection with this incident and has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

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Following misinformation from the police, Somerset Live reported a further serious assault in a village called Courtway on the Quantock Hills, however the police have confirmed that that information was not a separate incident, but related to the incident near Spaxton.

Police confirmed at the time that a man was taken to Musgrove Hospital with arm injuries, and Somerset Live believes this information to still be correct with regards to the Spaxton assault.

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Then, a day later (February 15), a body was seen being pulled out of the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal near the Albert Street Bridge in Bridgwater.

Initial reports suggested that a man had died at the scene but this was not the case.

A 999 call was made stating that a man was in trouble in the canal and a fire service spokesman: "We were called to the scene at in order to assist paramedics with rescuing a male casualty from the water. Firefighters used a triple extension ladder to retrieve the injured man."

Albert Street was closed both ways whilst police investigated.

At the time, police reported that the man had become trapped in the mud and was released by the fire service, and that the man was suffering from head and chest injuries when he was rescued.

South Western Ambulance Service said they were called to reports of a male casualty with a chest injury at 11.24am.

Two ambulances, a rapid response car and a doctor attended, and the man was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Yesterday, an Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokesperson confirmed that the incident is being treated as a serious assault, and that the police are still investigating.

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Bridgwater crime: Canal assault and Spaxton kidnapping - everything we know so far - Somerset Live

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