A MAN has been charged after being arrested in connection with a spate of violent raids across Colchester. 

Armed police swooped on a home in Purcell Close, off Avon Way, yesterday morning. 

Conor Ashton, 23, of Purcell Close, has been charged with two counts of aggravated burglary and five counts of burglary with intent to steal.

He is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court today.

In one of the raids, in Avon Way, the raider threatened a woman with a knife and stole her debit card and withdrew a large amount of cash.

READ MORE: Woman tied and threatened at knife point in 'horrific' burglary

In the second, in Acacia Avenue, a burglar got away with just a mobile phone.

READ MORE: Police urge caution as second woman is tied up by raider

Both raids were described by police at the time as “horrific”.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “A man has been arrested following a spate of burglaries in Colchester between March and August.

“The 23-year-old from Colchester was arrested this morning on suspicion of burglary offences including aggravated burglaries.”

Police and forensic teams searched a three-storey house yesterday following the man’s arrest.