Here we take a look at some of the criminals locked up during the summer of 2022.
All of the information below comes from either Sussex Police or our reporters attending court in person.
13. Locked up in Sussex 2022: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A criminal network that distributed cocaine and heroin in Crawley, led by father and son ice cream van operators, was completely dismantled by a complex Sussex Police investigation and has now resulted in prison sentences totalling nearly 50 years for the pair and six other men. The following three men were sentenced at Brighton Crown Court on April 28. Jordan Lacey, 30, of Sullivan Drive, Crawley, (left in main photo) was given a total sentence of eight years, five months, including six years and nine months for conspiracy to supply cocaine, 18 months for possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and two months for obstructing police. Joshua Erikson, 27, of Goffs Park Rd, Crawley, (centre) was given a total sentence of seven years and three months, comprising seven years for conspiracy to supply cocaine, and three months for offering to supply alprazolam. Aaron Dolding, 36, of Foxglove Drive, Forge Wood, Crawley, (right) was sentenced to four years and six months for conspiracy to supply cocaine. Photo: Sussex Police
![A man violently assaulted another man with a baseball bat before texting his friend to brag that he had 'done him right over'. Anthony Lee (left) and George Cranford carried out the pre-planned and prolonged attack at an address in Rowan Close, Storrington, on February 16, 2020. The 22-year-old victim, who was known to them, had been playing his friend’s games console when the pair barged in uninvited and beat him without warning. He was struck with a baseball bat, and punched and kicked multiple times, causing a head injury, a fractured elbow and significant bruising. Lee, 26, of Brighton Road, Crawley, and Cranford, 21, of Rowan Close, Storrington, were identified as the suspects and were later arrested. Enquiries revealed Lee had messaged at least two people to brag about the offence he had committed, adding: “Me and George smash[ed] him right up earlier”. He was charged with committing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court on April 27. Cranford was charged with committing grievous bodily harm without intent. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment at the same hearing.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmU4OGE2YWM3LTU1NWItNDg4NS1iMzliLWYzY2VlN2VlNDdkNjozOGRlOTg0My00ZWQ2LTRhYzAtOWYxNi1iMmVjM2EyMjBlNDk=.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=640)
14. Locked up in Sussex 2022: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A man violently assaulted another man with a baseball bat before texting his friend to brag that he had 'done him right over'. Anthony Lee (left) and George Cranford carried out the pre-planned and prolonged attack at an address in Rowan Close, Storrington, on February 16, 2020. The 22-year-old victim, who was known to them, had been playing his friend’s games console when the pair barged in uninvited and beat him without warning. He was struck with a baseball bat, and punched and kicked multiple times, causing a head injury, a fractured elbow and significant bruising. Lee, 26, of Brighton Road, Crawley, and Cranford, 21, of Rowan Close, Storrington, were identified as the suspects and were later arrested. Enquiries revealed Lee had messaged at least two people to brag about the offence he had committed, adding: “Me and George smash[ed] him right up earlier”. He was charged with committing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court on April 27. Cranford was charged with committing grievous bodily harm without intent. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment at the same hearing. Photo: Sussex Police
15. Locked up in Sussex 2022: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A woman who robbed an elderly man in Crawley has been jailed. The 70-year-old victim had walked to his local shops at Tilgate Parade on August 28, 2020 to purchase cigarettes and started to walk home via a nearby alleyway when he was assaulted from behind. He was repeatedly punched and kicked as he lay helpless on the floor, and heard a woman shout “get his phone, get his wallet”. The victim realised his mobile phone and wallet had been stolen, and his bank card had been used to make at least three transactions in the local area shortly afterwards. He recognised the voice of Yogini Limbachia – known as ‘Gina’ – who he knows and saw at the parade only moments before he was attacked. Police carried out a search of the area and located Limbachia in Tilgate Way. She was in possession of the man’s stolen belongings. The 41-year-old, who is unemployed, of Shipley Road, Crawley, was arrested and charged with robbery. She claimed she had found the items on the ground and had intended to hand them in to police. However Limbachia pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court on April 22. She was also given a three-year restraining order which prohibits her from contacting the victim, going within 50 metres of him or entering his street address. She was warned that failure to comply with these conditions is an offence which carries a maximum term of five years’ imprisonment. Photo: Sussex Police
16. Locked up in Sussex 2022: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
Two people who ran a county lines drug operation in Brighton known as the ‘Ben and Jerry’ line have been convicted. Ryell Cummings, 28, of Pigott Street in London, (pictured) and Courtney Leech, 24, of Lambert Road in London, both pleaded guilty to multiple Class A drug charges after being spotted by officers carrying out a drug deal in Brighton. On October 8, 2019, officers from Brighton’s Community Investigation Team saw the occupants of a BMW carrying out a drug deal in Little Preston Street. They were stopped on nearby Kings Road and the driver, Leech, was detained and searched. Officers uncovered 106 wraps of crack cocaine and 65 wraps of heroin, with a total street value of £1,700. A mobile phone was also recovered from the vehicle and identified as being the ‘Ben and Jerry’ county line. County lines drug dealing is when criminals from large urban areas, such as London, deal drugs in smaller areas across county borders, such as Brighton. Drug users contact them through specific phone numbers. The practice is typified by violence and exploitation of vulnerable people and children. Leech was released on conditional bail, but on November 15, 2019, roads policing officers stopped her once again in a vehicle in Dyke Road, with Cummings found in the front seat. The car was searched and 300 wraps of crack cocaine and 169 wraps of heroin were found in a carrier bag hidden under the dashboard. The drugs had a total street value of £4,690. Another mobile phone linked to the ‘Ben and Jerry’ line was also found. A wider investigation found Leech and Cummings played significant roles in managing and supervising the drug line. Both were charged with possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and possession of cannabis and pleaded guilty at Hove Crown Court on April 20, 2022. Cummings was sentenced to five years in prison for both charges of possession with intent to supply, to run concurrently. Leech will be sentenced on June 17. Photo: Sussex Police