Here we take a look at some of the criminals locked up during the first third of the year.
All of the information below comes from either Sussex Police or our reporters attending court in person.
25. Locked up in Sussex 2023: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
A man who carried out a violent and unprovoked attack on a homeless man in Worthing has been jailed for seven years, police confirmed. The 43-year-old victim had been sitting outside a shop in Montague Street when he was approached by the defendant. Police said without warning, he struck him over the head with a clear bottle twice, causing it to smash. Then, while holding the broken neck of the bottle, he stabbed the victim to the side of the head. Sussex Police said the victim sustained severe head and facial injuries which required emergency treatment. The defendant then ran from the scene and was chased by members of the public who witnessed the incident and physically restrained him until police arrived, police added. He was identified as Shaun Brown, 36, unemployed, of Brighton Road, Worthing, police said. He was arrested and charged with committing grievous bodily harm, which he pleaded guilty to, and was sentenced to seven years - consisting of four years’ imprisonment and three years on licence - at Lewes Crown Court on January 9. The attack happened in the afternoon of October 22, 2022, police said. Photo: Sussex Police
26. Locked up in Sussex 2023: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
A drug-dealer faces a prison spell and then deportation after being found guilty of offences in Brighton in the run up to Pride last year, police confirmed. Sussex Police said Elton Bakijasi was stopped by officers from the Specialist Enforcement Unit (SEU) at the junction of Powis Grove and Dyke Road after being suspected of using his vehicle for dealing class A drugs. As he was arrested, he tried to kick a cubby hole in the vehicle shut. Police said officers found 27 grip seal bags contained inside, and also found evidence that Bakijasi was using a false Italian driving licence. Sussex Police said he was charged with possession of a class A drug with intent to supply and with possession of false identity documents with intent. Following an investigation by Detective Thornton-Green from Brighton CID, he was convicted at Hove Crown Court on January 27 and has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. The court heard how the SEU officers stopped the blue Ford Fiesta driven by Bakijasi at 7.10pm on August 3. Police said Bakijasi, 44, unemployed of Station Road, Portslade, did not have a valid licence and the vehicle was not registered in his name. He will also face a deportation order upon his release, police added. Photo: Sussex Police
27. Locked up in Sussex 2023: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
A ‘prolific shoplifter’ has been jailed just days after he went on a ‘crime spree’ in Worthing, police have said. Officers said Jordan Thomson, 30, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment after he stole items costing a totel of £969. A Sussex Police spokesperson added: “He stole batteries from Wilko in the Guildbourne Centre on January 2; meat from Co-Op in South Street on January 8 and January 9; meat and a smoothie from Tesco Express in Rectory Road on January 9; and laundry detergent from Wilko on January 16. On each occasion he was identified by staff who reported it to police.” Thomson was arrested and charged with five counts of theft, which he pleaded guilty to, according to police. Officers said Thomson was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, January 24.Thomson was arrested and charged with five counts of theft, which he pleaded guilty to, according to police. Photo: Sussex Police
28. Locked up in Sussex 2023: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
An Eastbourne man has been jailed after attempting to steal cash from a Greggs store in Worthing. Police arrested Robert Jody May (pictured) in the early hours on October 9, after he and Patrick Knight had activated an intruder alarm in the bakery chain on Montague Street, Worthing. May, 48, and Knight, 52, forced entry via a roof hatch, causing extensive damage, and stole a quantity of cash from the safe of the store. Both men were charged with burglary. These included Superdrug in Terminus Road and The Tattoo Lounge and The Works in Station Street, all taking place in January 2021. He was given a suspended sentence order, which meant if he committed any further offences within a specified time frame, he could face prison. Following the Greggs break-in arrest, May pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to a total of 18 months’ imprisonment – which included the activation of his suspended sentence for the previous offences – at Lewes Crown Court on January 6. Photo: Sussex Police