Here we take a look at some of the criminals locked up during the summer of 2023.
All of the information below comes from either Sussex Police or our reporters attending court in person.
37. Locked up in Sussex 2023: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A drug dealer who tried to swallow wraps of Class A drugs to avoid arrest has been sentenced to seven years in prison. Tanya Edwards, 47, of Long Ley, Wolverhampton, was observed dealing drugs in Hastings town centre over two days in October, 2021. She was stopped and officers found Class A drugs in her car, along with a large amount of cash and a Stanley knife concealed under the drivers’ mat. Edwards was arrested and released on bail with a condition not to enter East Sussex. But almost two weeks later, on October 20, officers spotted what they believed to be drug dealing activity at an address in St Leonards-on-Sea. Two women seen coming and going from a property were detained and the property searched. When officers entered, they found Edwards attempting to swallow wraps of Class A drugs to try and conceal them. They also found several wraps of Class A drugs, mobile phones and a large amount of cash. A search of a hire car nearby revealed further cash and wraps of Class A drugs. The vehicle was found to have been hired by Edwards. Edwards was charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, both heroin and crack cocaine, and possession of criminal property, and was remanded in custody. Following a week-long trial in April 2023, a jury found Edwards guilty of all offences and she was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Photo: Sussex Police
38. Locked up in Sussex 2023: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A builder from Sutton who violently assaulted a woman in Portslade has been given a six and a half year sentence. Lee Norris, 51, of Buckhurst Avenue in Carshalton, Sutton, was arrested on Tuesday, November 8, after a he fled the scene of a collision with another vehicle. A member of the public reported the collision and the driver was swiftly identified as Norris from video footage of the incident. Officers traced him that evening to a property in Portslade, where they found a distressed woman with significant facial injuries. Despite the pain from her injuries and her fear of Norris she disclosed a sustained violent assault by Norris, who strangled and threatened to kill her if she reported it to the police. Norris was found inside the address with blood on his hands and arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm, making threats to kill, failing to stop after a road accident and driving without insurance. He was later arrested further for intentional strangulation and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. After being charged with all six offences, he pleaded guilty to each count at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, November 10, and was remanded in custody. At Chichester Crown Court on Monday, June 19, Norris was jailed for four years and six months, plus two years to be spent on extended licence after the court considered him to be dangerous. He was also given a restraining order for six years and disqualified from driving for 63 months. Photo: Sussex Police
39. Locked up in Sussex 2023: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A dangerous driver who left the scene of a collision while a passenger was trapped in the car has been jailed. Reece Page lost control of a Mini Cooper and collided into a brick wall in Polegate Road, Hailsham. He was only a provisional licence holder at the time, and was not displaying L plates. The 27-year-old ran from the scene, leaving a 22-year-old man from Burgess Hill in the rear passenger seat stranded with life-changing injuries. Emergency services arrived and firefighters had to extract the 22-year-old man safely before taking to him to hospital. At Lewes Crown Court, Page admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. The court heard how the incident happened shortly after 1am on February 26, 2022. Page, unemployed, of Station Road, Hailsham, had attended the JD Wetherspoon pub in Hailsham. He was given the keys of a vehicle which did not belong to him, and decided to drive away. Then after colliding into the wall, he ran away from the scene. Page was also disqualified from driving for five years and ten months. Photo: Sussex Police
40. Locked up in Sussex 2023: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
Three drug dealers have been jailed for more than 17 years following a police investigation into a long-running County Drug Line. Sussex Police received information that the ‘Sparky’ line was once again active in Eastbourne, selling crack cocaine and heroin to vulnerable people. In conjunction with the South East Trilogy Unit from the Metropolitan Police, simultaneous warrants were executed at addresses in Eastbourne and London on July 22. This led to the arrest of three individuals and the seizure of Class A drugs. The trio were subsequently charged and remanded in custody. Rease Colebrook, 29, of Normanton Street, Forest Hill, London, was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine from November 9, 2021 to July 20, 2022; conspiracy to supply heroin from November 9, 2021 to July 20, 2022; possession with intent to supply 27.9g cocaine and 7g crack cocaine on July 20, 2022; possession with intent to supply 14.7g heroin on July 20, 2022; and possession of cannabis on July 20, 2022. On July 19 they appeared at Woolwich Crown Court and pleaded guilty to all offences. The following day, Colebrook (street name ‘Ady’) was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment. Photo: Sussex Police