Here we take a look at some of the criminals locked up during the summer of 2023.placeholder image
Here we take a look at some of the criminals locked up during the summer of 2023.

Locked up in Sussex 2023: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August

By Matt Pole
Published 29th Dec 2023, 08:00 BST

It has been another busy year for judges, juries and magistrates across Sussex.

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.

A drug dealer who supplied crack cocaine and heroin in Brighton and Hove has been jailed for over four years. Tyler Katemauswa, 21, formerly of Wordsworth Street in Hove, was first arrested in September 2021, after a member of the public reported seeing him dealing drugs near his home. Officers attended and observed Katemauswa continuing to carry out deals. He was chased into nearby Wilbury Road and arrested for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs after wraps of drugs and multiple mobile phones were found nearby. His home was also searched and found to have Class A drugs, items linked to drug dealing and weapons. Analysis of his mobile phones showed Katemauswa was the operator of the OSCAR deal line, with multiple messages advertising to drug users. While released under investigation, the line was shown to have reactivated and call data showed it moved with Katemauswa as he changed address in Brighton and Hove to continue his activity. He was arrested again in January, 2022, for an unrelated matter and his mobile phone was found to once again be linked to drug dealing under a different number. Katemauswa was charged with possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. At Hove Crown Court on May 30, he was sentenced to 51 months in prison having pleaded guilty to all charges.

25. Locked up in Sussex 2023: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August

A drug dealer who supplied crack cocaine and heroin in Brighton and Hove has been jailed for over four years. Tyler Katemauswa, 21, formerly of Wordsworth Street in Hove, was first arrested in September 2021, after a member of the public reported seeing him dealing drugs near his home. Officers attended and observed Katemauswa continuing to carry out deals. He was chased into nearby Wilbury Road and arrested for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs after wraps of drugs and multiple mobile phones were found nearby. His home was also searched and found to have Class A drugs, items linked to drug dealing and weapons. Analysis of his mobile phones showed Katemauswa was the operator of the OSCAR deal line, with multiple messages advertising to drug users. While released under investigation, the line was shown to have reactivated and call data showed it moved with Katemauswa as he changed address in Brighton and Hove to continue his activity. He was arrested again in January, 2022, for an unrelated matter and his mobile phone was found to once again be linked to drug dealing under a different number. Katemauswa was charged with possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. At Hove Crown Court on May 30, he was sentenced to 51 months in prison having pleaded guilty to all charges. Photo: Sussex Police

Members of an organised crime gang responsible for a series of violent incidents in East Sussex have been jailed. Four men and one boy were sentenced following a police investigation into the supply of drugs and a series of arsons and criminal damage in Rye, Hastings, and Bexhill. Police initially became aware of drug-related activity in the autumn of 2019, leading officers to execute a warrant at the home address of 24-year-old Charlie Banks in November of that year. A quantity of cannabis and cash was found, as well as messages consistent with the supply of cocaine and cannabis on Banks’s mobile phone. In August 2020, officers had cause to stop a vehicle in Rye. Banks was in the passenger seat and found in possession of cocaine. A further telephone seized from him found messaging consistent with the supply of cocaine, of amounts up to 500 grams at a time, and cannabis. While this investigation was ongoing, a series of incidents of arson and criminal damage were reported during the summer of 2022. The investigations into these incidents led police to believe they were all related to the supply of drugs, and that the offending was a way for dealers to enforce the payment of drug debts or otherwise cause fear to the individuals they targeted. From their investigations and speaking to the victims of the arson attacks, police found multiple links back to Charlie Banks. Banks was found to be in contact with the victims prior to the attacks, demanding money or attempting to sell them drugs. All four men and the 17-year-old boy were arrested, charged with multiple offences, and remanded in custody. They entered guilty pleas and were sentenced on May 25 as follows: Banks, of Peacocke Way, Rye, was convicted of conspiracy to commit arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered; conspiracy to supply Class A controlled drugs; being concerned in the supply of cocaine; conspiracy to supply Class B controlled drugs; and being concerned in the supply of cannabis. He was sentenced to eight years.

26. Locked up in Sussex 2023: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August

Members of an organised crime gang responsible for a series of violent incidents in East Sussex have been jailed. Four men and one boy were sentenced following a police investigation into the supply of drugs and a series of arsons and criminal damage in Rye, Hastings, and Bexhill. Police initially became aware of drug-related activity in the autumn of 2019, leading officers to execute a warrant at the home address of 24-year-old Charlie Banks in November of that year. A quantity of cannabis and cash was found, as well as messages consistent with the supply of cocaine and cannabis on Banks’s mobile phone. In August 2020, officers had cause to stop a vehicle in Rye. Banks was in the passenger seat and found in possession of cocaine. A further telephone seized from him found messaging consistent with the supply of cocaine, of amounts up to 500 grams at a time, and cannabis. While this investigation was ongoing, a series of incidents of arson and criminal damage were reported during the summer of 2022. The investigations into these incidents led police to believe they were all related to the supply of drugs, and that the offending was a way for dealers to enforce the payment of drug debts or otherwise cause fear to the individuals they targeted. From their investigations and speaking to the victims of the arson attacks, police found multiple links back to Charlie Banks. Banks was found to be in contact with the victims prior to the attacks, demanding money or attempting to sell them drugs. All four men and the 17-year-old boy were arrested, charged with multiple offences, and remanded in custody. They entered guilty pleas and were sentenced on May 25 as follows: Banks, of Peacocke Way, Rye, was convicted of conspiracy to commit arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered; conspiracy to supply Class A controlled drugs; being concerned in the supply of cocaine; conspiracy to supply Class B controlled drugs; and being concerned in the supply of cannabis. He was sentenced to eight years. Photo: Sussex Police

Members of an organised crime gang responsible for a series of violent incidents in East Sussex have been jailed. Four men and one boy were sentenced following a police investigation into the supply of drugs and a series of arsons and criminal damage in Rye, Hastings, and Bexhill. While this investigation was ongoing, a series of incidents of arson and criminal damage were reported during the summer of 2022. The investigations into these incidents led police to believe they were all related to the supply of drugs, and that the offending was a way for dealers to enforce the payment of drug debts or otherwise cause fear to the individuals they targeted. In August 2022, a search warrant was conducted at James McKenna’s address and a large quantity of Class A, B and C drugs were found and seized, including 19 grams of Methamphetamine and 30.2 grams of cocaine. McKenna’s phone also contained messaging relating to the sale of cocaine, cannabis, LSD, MDMA and Ketamine, and showed McKenna recruiting others to commit criminal damage for which he was offering a fee. All four men and the 17-year-old boy were arrested, charged with multiple offences, and remanded in custody. They entered guilty pleas and were sentenced on May 25 as follows: McKenna, of Peartree Lane, Bexhill, was convicted of conspiracy to commit criminal damage; conspiracy to supply Class A drugs; conspiracy to commit domestic burglary; possession of cannabis; and possession of criminal property. He was sentenced to five years and two months’ imprisonment.

27. Locked up in Sussex 2023: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August

Members of an organised crime gang responsible for a series of violent incidents in East Sussex have been jailed. Four men and one boy were sentenced following a police investigation into the supply of drugs and a series of arsons and criminal damage in Rye, Hastings, and Bexhill. While this investigation was ongoing, a series of incidents of arson and criminal damage were reported during the summer of 2022. The investigations into these incidents led police to believe they were all related to the supply of drugs, and that the offending was a way for dealers to enforce the payment of drug debts or otherwise cause fear to the individuals they targeted. In August 2022, a search warrant was conducted at James McKenna’s address and a large quantity of Class A, B and C drugs were found and seized, including 19 grams of Methamphetamine and 30.2 grams of cocaine. McKenna’s phone also contained messaging relating to the sale of cocaine, cannabis, LSD, MDMA and Ketamine, and showed McKenna recruiting others to commit criminal damage for which he was offering a fee. All four men and the 17-year-old boy were arrested, charged with multiple offences, and remanded in custody. They entered guilty pleas and were sentenced on May 25 as follows: McKenna, of Peartree Lane, Bexhill, was convicted of conspiracy to commit criminal damage; conspiracy to supply Class A drugs; conspiracy to commit domestic burglary; possession of cannabis; and possession of criminal property. He was sentenced to five years and two months’ imprisonment. Photo: Sussex Police

Members of an organised crime gang responsible for a series of violent incidents in East Sussex have been jailed. Four men and one boy were sentenced following a police investigation into the supply of drugs and a series of arsons and criminal damage in Rye, Hastings, and Bexhill. While this investigation was ongoing, a series of incidents of arson and criminal damage were reported during the summer of 2022. The investigations into these incidents led police to believe they were all related to the supply of drugs, and that the offending was a way for dealers to enforce the payment of drug debts or otherwise cause fear to the individuals they targeted. Police enquiries identified the vehicle as belonging to 19-year-old Bradley Froud, and his car was also found to be present in the vicinity of the arsons on July 12 and July 13. Froud was stopped by police while driving in St Leonards and failed a roadside drugs wipe for cocaine and cannabis. He was arrested for those offences and for his suspected involvement in the arsons. A search of his car found bottles of white spirit and lighter fluid, while analysis of his mobile phone also found videos of vehicles being set on fire and windows being smashed, including footage of the attack on the shop in St Leonards on June 27. Froud’s phone also showed messages between him and 19-year-old James McKenna relating to the supply of drugs. All four men and the 17-year-old boy were arrested, charged with multiple offences, and remanded in custody. They entered guilty pleas and were sentenced on May 25 as follows: Froud, of Frewyn Close, St Leonards, was convicted of conspiracy to commit arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered; conspiracy to commit criminal damage; conspiracy to supply Class A drugs; conspiracy to supply Class B drugs; conspiracy to supply Class C drugs; and conspiracy to commit domestic burglary. He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.

28. Locked up in Sussex 2023: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August

Members of an organised crime gang responsible for a series of violent incidents in East Sussex have been jailed. Four men and one boy were sentenced following a police investigation into the supply of drugs and a series of arsons and criminal damage in Rye, Hastings, and Bexhill. While this investigation was ongoing, a series of incidents of arson and criminal damage were reported during the summer of 2022. The investigations into these incidents led police to believe they were all related to the supply of drugs, and that the offending was a way for dealers to enforce the payment of drug debts or otherwise cause fear to the individuals they targeted. Police enquiries identified the vehicle as belonging to 19-year-old Bradley Froud, and his car was also found to be present in the vicinity of the arsons on July 12 and July 13. Froud was stopped by police while driving in St Leonards and failed a roadside drugs wipe for cocaine and cannabis. He was arrested for those offences and for his suspected involvement in the arsons. A search of his car found bottles of white spirit and lighter fluid, while analysis of his mobile phone also found videos of vehicles being set on fire and windows being smashed, including footage of the attack on the shop in St Leonards on June 27. Froud’s phone also showed messages between him and 19-year-old James McKenna relating to the supply of drugs. All four men and the 17-year-old boy were arrested, charged with multiple offences, and remanded in custody. They entered guilty pleas and were sentenced on May 25 as follows: Froud, of Frewyn Close, St Leonards, was convicted of conspiracy to commit arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered; conspiracy to commit criminal damage; conspiracy to supply Class A drugs; conspiracy to supply Class B drugs; conspiracy to supply Class C drugs; and conspiracy to commit domestic burglary. He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. Photo: Sussex Police

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