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.
53. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
A dangerous driver caused a head-on collision by travelling on the wrong side of the on the A21 at Vinehall Street near Robertsbridge on January 24 last year. Jean Dias was driving a Land Rover that collided with a white Ford Fiesta while travelling on the wrong carriageway. The collision caused the driver of the Ford Fiesta, a 54-year-old man from Hastings, to suffer life-changing injuries. Dias claimed there must have been a vehicle fault that caused his car to veer to the right. But an investigation found no vehicle defects. The most likely cause of the collision was Dias being either distracted or driving in such a careless way for it to be reckless. Careless and dangerous driving are major factors in causing death and serious injury on our roads. At Lewes Crown Court on April 19, Dias, aged 44, formerly a company director of Sandown Way, Bexhill, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was jailed for two years and four months, and has been disqualified from driving for five years. Photo: Sussex Police
54. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
A prolific shoplifter has been jailed for more than two years following a number of shoplifting incidents in East Sussex. Aron Croft was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment when he appeared before Lewes Crown Court on April 18. Croft pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary, two counts of shoplifting and one count of using threatening behaviour to cause distress when he appeared before court on September 21. The court heard that in 2023, Croft went on a shoplifting spree in Kent and East Sussex. On February 8, 2023, Croft entered the Co-op in Cranbrook, Kent and stole spirits worth £400. He entered the Co-op again on August 5, 2023, this time in Fairlight Road, Hastings and stole a number food items worth £46.75. On August 13, 2023, Croft trespassed and went behind the kiosk at the Co-op in Seabourne Road, Bexhill. He stole Tobacco products worth more than £300. Croft returned to the Co-op in Bexhill and stole further Tobacco products on August 20 worth £2,285. It was heard that when he approached the kiosk, he threatened a member of staff and said: “you’re dead, I’m dying soon, I can be dangerous”, causing the shop worker distress. Croft, 35, of no fixed address has now been jailed. When appearing for sentencing, he was also handed a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order. This order prohibits him to enter any retail establishment he has previously committed offences in or has been banned from, as well has wearing anything which obscures his head and face in a retail premises. If he is asked to leave by a store worker, he has to comply and must not act in an anti-social manner. Photo: Sussex Police
55. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
Two men have been jailed for a total of 50 years after being convicted of murdering Harrison Tomkins in Crawley. The 25-year-old, suffered multiple stab wounds during the assault at a block of flats in Arthur Road at around 5.30am on August 13 last year. Police and paramedics were on the scene within minutes and performed emergency first aid but despite their best efforts, Harrison, a lifeguard from Crawley, tragically died. At Brighton Crown Court on April 23, Kaydon Prior, 23, of Hazelwick Avenue, Crawley (left), was sentenced to 28 years in custody and Jason Curtis, 22, of Lairdale Road, Lambeth, London (right), was jailed for 22 years after both being found guilty in February of Harrison’s murder following a four-week trial. The pair were also found guilty of being in possession of an offensive weapon and Prior was additionally found guilty of common assault. Photo: Sussex Police
56. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
A dangerous driver struck a pedestrian causing life-changing injuries in a hit and run collision in Horsham. Nasko Naskov said: “I hit him, then I panicked”. He drove away, leaving his victim for dead. The crash in Rusper Road on October 16, 2022 left the victim in intensive care with a fractured skull. It also left him requiring ongoing treatment for brain injuries which have had a life-changing impact. Naskov, 20, a catering worker of Oak Road, Southwater, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving. At Lewes Crown Court on April 18 he was jailed for three years, and was disqualified from driving for six-and-a-half years. Photo: Sussex Police