A THIRD man has been charged in connection with a stabbing incident which left a man in a serious condition in Colchester.

Essex Police officers were called to reports of a disturbance in Magdalen Street shortly after 11pm on March 31.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found a badly injured man in his 30s who had suffered a stab wound to his stomach.

Paramedics were also called to the incident before the victim was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Yesterday, Brandon Bovington, 19, of no fixed address, was charged with assisting an offender.

He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court and was remanded in custody to appear at Ipswich Crown Court on August 23.

Bovington is now the third man to be charged in connection with the incident after two others were arrested and charged earlier this year.

Joseph Little, 18, of St Mary’s Close, Panfield, has been charged with attempted murder, possession of an offensive weapon, possession with intent to supply a Class A drug, criminal damage and affray.

Zak Henry, 19, of Waddelow Road, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, has been charged with attempted murder.

They will stand trial for an expected seven days, following a further case management hearing on August 4.

After the incident both Magdalen Street and George Williams Way were cordoned off to members of the public while investigations were carried out.

Four police cars were spotted on the scene, whilst people driving in both directions were redirected – some towards St Botolph’s Circus, and others towards Wimpole Road, Colchester.

In the early hours of the Saturday morning which followed, the police presence in Magdalen Street remained significant, but the police cordon was gradually scaled down.

Speaking at the time of the incident, district commander for Colchester, chief inspector Colin Cox, moved to reassure the public. 

He said: “I know this incident will have caused concern but Colchester is a safe place.

“We continue to work hard to target violence in all its forms”.

Echoing the sentiment, a spokesman for Essex Police added there was "no risk to the wider public.”