A THIRD man has been arrested and charged in relation to break-ins targeting high-powered computer equipment at Durham University's science site late last year.

Martin Joseph Hutchinson, from the Elephant and Castle, in south London, was arrested by Thames Valley Police at an address in Banbury, Oxfordshire, on Wednesday last week.

He was interviewed by Durham detectives the following day and went before magistrates in Banbury on Friday, charged with burglaries at the Stockton Road science complex on December 17 and 22.

Twenty-three-year-old Mr Hutchinson was remanded in custody, to appear back at the court on October 18.

Two other men from London, aged 20 and 42, were arrested at addresses in the capital, in May, as part of the inquiry.

One has since been accused of taking part in the December 17 break-in and the other with the December 22 raid.

Both have made several court appearances before magistrates in Durham and Chester-le-Street, and are now on bail, pending committal hearings to transfer the cases to the crown court.