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.
13. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
A drug dealer has been sentenced after he was stopped by specialist officers in Brighton. Asllan Hasbajrami was driving a vehicle without a valid licence or insurance in Preston Road. His vehicle came to the attention of Specialist Enforcement Unit (SEU) officers on patrol. When stopped, they noticed the 21-year-old became nervous. He gave a false name to officers, and produced fraudulent identification documents. The officers found cash, two burner phones, and 16 wraps of cocaine inside the vehicle. Following an investigation by officers from Brighton CID, Hasbajrami was charged with being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, driving without valid insurance, and obstructing or resisting arrest. At Lewes Crown Court on January 12, he admitted the charges and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Hasbajrami, formerly of an address in Beaconsfield Road, Brighton, will face deportation to Albania following his prison sentence. The court was told the incident happened in the early hours of October 14 last year. A vehicle had been spotted by SEU officers earlier in the night. His vehicle was spotted for a second time and Hasbajrami was searched and arrested. The drugs and cash found were seized and forfeited. Photo: Sussex Police
14. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
A car passenger has been sentenced for causing a serious collision near Chichester. Jake Sharpe was travelling as a rear seat passenger in the vehicle travelling on the A259 near Bosham. The 28-year-old pulled the handbrake of the silver Vauxhall as it travelled on the 60mph limit road. It caused the driver to lose control and swerve into the oncoming carriageway, where it collided head on with a silver Hyundai car. Sharpe gave no reason for why he had carried out such a dangerous action on the road. It left the front seat passenger in the silver Hyundai with life-threatening injuries. The passenger of the Vauxhall also suffered serious and potentially life changing injuries, while the driver of the of Hyundai was also hurt in the crash. At Portsmouth Crown Court on January 12, Sharpe, a member of the armed forces, of Otway Road, Chichester, appeared for sentence. He admitted two counts of causing grievous bodily harm, two counts of causing criminal damage to a motor vehicle, and one count of common assault. Sharpe was sentenced to 23 months in prison. The court was told how the incident happened at about 2pm on November 25, 2022. Both vehicles were travelling at speeds within the limit of 50mph and 60mph at the time. Photo: Sussex Police
15. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
Detectives have successfully dismantled a major drugs gang, who have been sentenced to 78 years’ imprisonment. Fifteen defendants have so far been convicted of their involvement in the mass distribution and supply of Class A and B substances in the Worthing area between March 2020 and June 2021. During this time, officers identified two local Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) who were purchasing large quantities of cocaine and cannabis from other OCGs in London, Luton and elsewhere, and selling them on for profit locally. Through painstaking investigations and working with partners, police were able to identify a number of suspects. A number of warrants and stop checks were executed across the county, leading to the seizure of around six kilograms of cocaine and cannabis with a wholesale value of £201,000 to £240,000 and street value of £480,000 to £600,000, 868 grams of cannabis and around £157,795 cash. Multiple arrests were also made. The following nine people all admitted the offences they were charged with, and were sentenced at Brighton Crown Court on January 11. James Richardson, 47, of Shetland Court, Worthing, was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for for conspiracy to supply cocaine. Photo: Sussex Police
16. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between January and April
Detectives have successfully dismantled a major drugs gang, who have been sentenced to 78 years’ imprisonment. Fifteen defendants have so far been convicted of their involvement in the mass distribution and supply of Class A and B substances in the Worthing area between March 2020 and June 2021. During this time, officers identified two local Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) who were purchasing large quantities of cocaine and cannabis from other OCGs in London, Luton and elsewhere, and selling them on for profit locally. Through painstaking investigations and working with partners, police were able to identify a number of suspects. A number of warrants and stop checks were executed across the county, leading to the seizure of around six kilograms of cocaine and cannabis with a wholesale value of £201,000 to £240,000 and street value of £480,000 to £600,000, 868 grams of cannabis and around £157,795 cash. Multiple arrests were also made. The following nine people all admitted the offences they were charged with, and were sentenced at Brighton Crown Court on January 11. Ergest Tarja, 31, of no fixed address, was sentenced to a further 10 years and six months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to supply cocaine and being concerned in the supply of cocaine. Photo: Sussex Police