Here we take a look at some of the criminals locked up during the summer of 2024.
All of the information below comes from either Sussex Police or our reporters attending court in person.
33. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
Brighton man has been sentenced after he stamped on the head of a woman and sexually assaulted another in West Street. Halcyon Platt, 21, of Ditchling Rise, Brighton, was sentenced on July 12, following incidents that occurred in the early morning of October 1, 2023. In the early hours of October 1, Platt was in a nightclub in West Street, when he made unreciprocated advances towards a 20-year-old woman. Platt, went on to sexually assault the woman before reportedly grabbing her by the throat after he was challenged on his behaviour. The victim called police to report the crime, and while on the phone, a second incident occurred involving Platt. Platt became enraged with a second woman near to the club, after she attempted to assist a man in West Street. He pushed the 23-year-old victim away from the area, before assaulting her and throwing her to the ground. Platt callously stamped on the victims head multiple times, causing significant facial injuries. Police quickly arrested Platt at the scene, and he was taken to custody before being bailed with strict conditions. Platt was charged on March 27 with attempted grievous bodily harm, sexual assault, and intentional strangulation. On May 23, Platt pleaded guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and sexual assault. The intentional strangulation offence was requested to lay on file. At Lewes Crown Court on July 12, Platt was sentenced to 45 months imprisonment and given a £228 fine. Photo: Sussex Police
34. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
Two men have been jailed for conspiracy to steal in connection with several theft offences committed across the South of England. The pair were arrested in February 2024 following a proactive investigation led by Hertfordshire’s Specialist Investigations Team, assisted by numerous police forces including Sussex Police’s CID unit, into a series of thefts of vehicles and tools from farms and other rural locations across Sussex, Norfolk, Devon, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire. Their spree primarily targeted rural areas between November 2023 and January 2024, during which they committed eight theft offences, including the theft of three vehicles and property worth more than £44,000. Bill Harber (right), aged 22 and Joseph Brazil (left), aged 19, both from Holwell Place, Essendon, were remanded into custody following their arrest and subsequently appeared at St Albans Crown Court on June 14. The pair were each sentenced to 30 months in prison. Incidents at rural properties in Rye and Bodiam in November 2023 were among the offences they were convicted of. Photo: Sussex Police
35. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A Southwick man who repeatedly raped and assaulted a woman has been given a 24-year sentence. On October 18, 2023, police were called to a property in Southwick to reports of a Shaun Clarke trying to gain entry, demanding money and making violent threats. Officers attended and spoke to a woman in the property, who disclosed a catalogue of physical and sexual violence from Clarke, 53, over a number of years. Clarke sought to control her actions and separate her from her friends. When Clarke did not approve of her behaviour, he would rape and assault her. Some of the violence was witnessed by the victim’s young children. Clarke, of Whiterock Place in Southwick, would also demand money from the victim – a woman in her 40s - culminating in the incident on October 18. When Clarke was arrested later that day he assaulted a female police officer, injuring her hand. He was subsequently charged with, and convicted of, five counts of rape, two counts of assault, engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour and assaulting an emergency worker. At Lewes Crown Court on July 12, Clarke was given a sentence of 24 years, comprising 19 years in custody with another five to be spent on licence. He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a Restraining Order, both to last indefinitely. Photo: Sussex Police
36. Locked up in Sussex 2024: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A man has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for distributing harmful drugs in Crawley. Police enquiries into the ‘JJ’ County Drug Line revealed that Omar Shackleton was suspected of running Class A substances in the town. A warrant was therefore executed at his home in Halstead Place, Halstead, Kent, in the early hours of March 8, where he was detained. A search of the address led to the discovery of approximately £5,035 cash, drug paraphernalia and numerous mobile phones. Officers also found a lump of brown substance which was lab-tested and confirmed to be 40g of a combination of heroin, Xzylazine and other cutting agents, which an estimated street value of £4,000. In addition, an extendable baton – classified as an offensive weapon – was found and seized. Shackleton, 31, was subsequently arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, possession of criminal property and possession of an offensive weapon. He pleaded guilty to all offences and was remanded in custody to appear before Lewes Crown Court on July 2, where he was sentenced to three years and one month in prison. Photo: Sussex Police