Police publish efit of pair suspected of Portslade burglary

Police have published an efit image of two people suspected of attacking a pensioner on his doorstep in Portslade and burgling his home.

The 80-year-old victim answered his door to a woman posing as an estate agent who asked him if he was thinking about putting his house on the market.

She sprayed him in the face with an unknown substance and two men then went into the house, in Brasslands Drive, and made an untidy search before leaving.

The pensioner was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital for treatment for minor injuries after the attack just after 7pm on Monday 9 June.

Sussex Police said that there were believed to be three suspects, two of whom are pictured in the efit.

The woman was described as white, about 30 years old, 5ft 6in to 5ft 7in tall, of average build and with straight black shoulder-length hair.

She was wearing an open-necked white shirt with a dark-coloured suit jacket and was well spoken.

The first man, who is pictured, was described as white, 39 to 40 years old, 5ft 6in tall and of heavy build with short black hair. He had a round face and was wearing an unclean dark-coloured short-sleeved shirt.

The other man, who is not pictured, was described as white, 30 to 40 years old, 5ft 7in to 5ft 9in tall, of muscular build and with short dark hair.

He was wearing a white t-shirt showing muscular arms.

One of the men has a long v-shaped tattoo on his left arm.

Detective Constable Vicky Bailey said: “Anyone who recognises this man or woman from the efit and description or has any other information is asked to contact us.”

Anyone able to help detectives is asked to phone Sussex Police on 101, email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.