Here we take a look at some of the criminals locked up during the first four months of the year.
All of the information below comes from either Sussex Police or our reporters attending court in person.
41. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
A man has been jailed following a crackdown on County Lines drug-dealing. Officers executed a Misuse of Drugs Act warrant at an address in Crawley, where local dealer Liam Batchelor was arrested. It was after he was identified as operating a drugs line supplying heroin and crack cocaine to vulnerable drug users in the area. The 37-year-old, who referred to himself in bulk text messages as ‘Tilgate Liam’, was found in possession of six mobile phones which were examined and clearly showed his criminal activity. He was charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, which he pleaded guilty to, and was sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment when he appeared before Lewes Crown Court on January 12. Batchelor, of Boswell Road, Tilgate, was arrested as part of Operation Ruby – a crackdown on County Lines drug-dealing in Crawley in December. Photo: Sussex Police
42. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
A man who raped a teenage girl in an East Sussex park has been jailed. David Berbers, 21, of Byatt Walk in Richmond-upon-Thames, attacked his victim – a girl under the age of 16 – in St Ann’s Well Gardens on the evening of July 25, 2021. "He had arranged to meet her after the pair had been communicating on social media,” a Sussex Police spokesperson said. "After suggesting they walk through the park, he raped her before fleeing the scene, leaving her to seek help from members of the public nearby. She was supported by medical professionals and specialist police officers, while an urgent investigation was launched.” Police said Berbers was identified through his Instagram account and the phone number he used to contact the victim – as well as a ‘detailed description she provided’. Urgent enquiries were carried out and he was arrested in London three days later on July 28, 2021, police said. “He was subsequently charged with the rape of a girl under 16 in relation to the Hove incident,” the police spokesperson said. "Berbers was also charged with two counts of rape and attempted rape as part of separate Metropolitan Police investigations, and possession of extreme pornography.” At Kingston Crown Court on December 4, a jury found him guilty of three counts of rape and one count of attempted rape, police said. Police said Berbers pleaded guilty to possession of extreme pornography. At the same court on February 16, Berbers was jailed for 11-years and given a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Photo: Sussex Police
43. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
Two drug dealers have been sentenced following an investigation into an Eastbourne drug line. Seven drug lines were identified by officers which ran between North West London and Eastbourne. Working with Metropolitan Police’s Op Orochi team, it was discovered that these drug lines were linked to Ahmet Arslan (pictured), 30, of Clandon Gardens, London. Police said that Arslan would operate a drug line from London, and would receive and send messages to multiple drug runners and collect the proceeds. Radovan Vukmir, 42, of Seaside Road, Eastbourne would carry out the exchanges in Eastbourne, on behalf of Arslan. In July 2023, officers from Sussex Police’s Project ADDER team and from the Met Police’s Op Orochi team conducted warrants in Eastbourne and London. Officers carried out a Section 8 PACE warrant at an address in Clandon Gardens, London, where Arslan was arrested, and his phones were seized. Later that day, Vukmir was seen at an alleyway near his home address on Seaside Road, Eastbourne and was arrested. Phones were seized from his address after police conducted a Section 18 warrant. Arslan and Vukmir were charged in July 2023 with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin and remanded in custody. They both pleaded guilty in January. The pair appeared before Lewes Crown Court on March 15 for sentencing. Arslan was sentenced to 173 weeks’ imprisonment and Vukmir was sentenced to 101 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 24 months Photo: Sussex Police
44. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
Alvin Satou-Boumpoutou, 32, was identified by the force’s Op Centurion team through a separate investigation into the supply of illegal substances in Sussex. A warrant was conducted at his home in St James’s Road, Croydon, on November 21, 2023 where a quantity of cocaine (84 grams), cannabis (597 grams) and cash (£14,395) was discovered in addition to a taser disguised as an iPhone. All items were seized, and Satou-Boumpoutou was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, possession of a prohibited firearm (the taser) and possession of criminal property (the cash). He appeared before Lewes Crown Court on March 8, where he was sentenced to three years and three months’ imprisonment. Photo: Sussex Police