Eastbourne pair steal and crash man’s Mercedes on night out

Police said Oliver Dennis, 23, of St Leonards Road and Charlie Saint, 21, of Jevington Gardens met the victim after he left Cameo nightclub in the early hours of September 14.

According to police, the victim started chatting to the two defendants and invited them back to his flat at Sovereign Harbour for some drinks.

The victim decided to go to sleep when it became light outside and asked the two defendants to let themselves out.

Police reported Dennis and Saint took the keys to the victim’s Mercedes – worth more than £25,000 – when they left.

According to police, after accelerating out of the parking spot, the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided into a pillar where the car was abandoned.

Significant damage was caused to the vehicle and it had to be written off.

Police said the crash was reported to them and they later discovered Saint’s provisional driving license inside the car.

Officers seized CCTV footage of the car crashing into a pillar which showed two suspects exiting the vehicle. The pair were interviewed and charged.

Saint pleaded guilty to the charge of aggravated vehicle taking (being carried on). Dennis pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking (initial taker).

On Wednesday (February 19) at Lewes Crown Court, both men were sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

They were both disqualified from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay a £149 victim surcharge and £400 compensation each.

They were also given a four month curfew from 9pm to 5am, said police.

Dennis was ordered to do 110 hours of unpaid work and Saint 80 hours of unpaid work.