Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August

By Matt Pole

Published 30th Dec 2025, 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 2025.

All of the information below comes from either Sussex Police or our reporters attending court in person.

We take a look at some of the criminals locked up during the summer of 2025.

1. Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August

We take a look at some of the criminals locked up during the summer of 2025. Photo: Sussex Police

Two men involved in the thefts of keyless entry vehicles in Sussex have been sentenced. Aaron Moth, 34, pictured, and Sean Owen, 36, admitted their roles in a conspiracy to steal the vehicles. Over a period of more than a year, they targeted Land Rovers in particular, with the aim of selling the vehicles onwards. Evidence showed they were targeting many vehicles across West Sussex and into Hampshire. But they were arrested, and following an investigation by Sussex Police detectives, their conspiracy was uncovered. At Lewes Crown Court on May 8, both men appeared for sentencing for their role in the theft of seven vehicles. The court was told how the crimes dated back to between January 2020 and December 2021. Owen, formerly a mechanic, of Bramble Lane, Worthing, was stopped by police while driving in a suspected stolen vehicle. Further searches at his address found he had searched for information on how to “hack” keyless entry vehicles. Evidence also then linked him to Moth, formerly a roofer, of Burndell Road, Yapton, as part of the conspiracy, and showed how the two men were targeting keyless entry vehicles. In one case, a victim and a friend traced a stolen vehicle from Lancing to Littlehampton and confronted two men at the location of the car. The victims later identified Aaron Moth, who had also dropped his mobile while trying to leave the area. Officers found evidence of additional planned car thefts on this phone. Moth admitted conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle and conspiracy to receive stolen goods. He was jailed for two years and four months. Owen admitted a charge of conspiracy to receive stolen goods. He received a one-year suspended sentence and was ordered to complete 12 months of alcohol dependency treatment and ten Rehabilitation Activity Requirement sessions. The court also ordered him to pay £800 in costs and a £149 surcharge.

2. Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August

Two men involved in the thefts of keyless entry vehicles in Sussex have been sentenced. Aaron Moth, 34, pictured, and Sean Owen, 36, admitted their roles in a conspiracy to steal the vehicles. Over a period of more than a year, they targeted Land Rovers in particular, with the aim of selling the vehicles onwards. Evidence showed they were targeting many vehicles across West Sussex and into Hampshire. But they were arrested, and following an investigation by Sussex Police detectives, their conspiracy was uncovered. At Lewes Crown Court on May 8, both men appeared for sentencing for their role in the theft of seven vehicles. The court was told how the crimes dated back to between January 2020 and December 2021. Owen, formerly a mechanic, of Bramble Lane, Worthing, was stopped by police while driving in a suspected stolen vehicle. Further searches at his address found he had searched for information on how to “hack” keyless entry vehicles. Evidence also then linked him to Moth, formerly a roofer, of Burndell Road, Yapton, as part of the conspiracy, and showed how the two men were targeting keyless entry vehicles. In one case, a victim and a friend traced a stolen vehicle from Lancing to Littlehampton and confronted two men at the location of the car. The victims later identified Aaron Moth, who had also dropped his mobile while trying to leave the area. Officers found evidence of additional planned car thefts on this phone. Moth admitted conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle and conspiracy to receive stolen goods. He was jailed for two years and four months. Owen admitted a charge of conspiracy to receive stolen goods. He received a one-year suspended sentence and was ordered to complete 12 months of alcohol dependency treatment and ten Rehabilitation Activity Requirement sessions. The court also ordered him to pay £800 in costs and a £149 surcharge. Photo: Sussex Police

A disqualified driver was stopped on the A23 and found to be in possession of cocaine and cannabis. Bilal Abdullah, 27, was stopped by officers from the Specialist Enforcement Unit. Inside a Citroen Berlingo van they found the drugs, a bladed article, a false document, and £935 in cash was seized. Abdullah, of no fixed address, appeared for sentence at Lewes Crown Court on May 19 and admitted possessing both class A and B drugs with intent to supply, possession of a bladed article, driving while disqualified, acquiring, using or possessing criminal property, and possessing or controlling a false or improperly obtained identity document. He was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison. The court was told how SEU officers stopped the vehicle travelling southbound at Hickstead on November 26 last year. They had information to suggest the vehicle was linked to drug dealing. Abdullah was stopped and arrested in a layby. Following an investigation by the West Sussex Community Investigations team he was charged and appeared in court.

3. Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August

A disqualified driver was stopped on the A23 and found to be in possession of cocaine and cannabis. Bilal Abdullah, 27, was stopped by officers from the Specialist Enforcement Unit. Inside a Citroen Berlingo van they found the drugs, a bladed article, a false document, and £935 in cash was seized. Abdullah, of no fixed address, appeared for sentence at Lewes Crown Court on May 19 and admitted possessing both class A and B drugs with intent to supply, possession of a bladed article, driving while disqualified, acquiring, using or possessing criminal property, and possessing or controlling a false or improperly obtained identity document. He was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison. The court was told how SEU officers stopped the vehicle travelling southbound at Hickstead on November 26 last year. They had information to suggest the vehicle was linked to drug dealing. Abdullah was stopped and arrested in a layby. Following an investigation by the West Sussex Community Investigations team he was charged and appeared in court. Photo: Sussex Police

A 17-year-old boy who fatally stabbed a man in Hailsham can now be named after a judge lifted reporting restrictions following his sentencing for manslaughter. Rhys Hedges, 17, from Hellingly, was charged with the murder of 20-year-old Billy Ripley, who died after an altercation in August 2024. A jury at Lewes Crown Court found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter following a trial which concluded on March 28. The court heard that police were called to Vicarage Field in Hailsham at around 6.20pm on August 29, 2024, following reports of a man being stabbed. Billy was found lying in an alleyway near The Hailsham Club with a single stab wound to the chest. Despite the best efforts of paramedics and officers, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses reported seeing the victim sitting on a bench in the town centre when Hedges approached. After a verbal exchange, the pair - who were known to each other - moved into the alleyway where the incident took place. CCTV footage showed an altercation between the two near the entrance to Hailsham Parish Church. Billy then staggered away, calling out he had been stabbed, before collapsing. The suspect fled the scene but was quickly identified and arrested at an address in Hailsham later that evening. He was subsequently charged and remanded in custody. On May 23, at Lewes Crown Court, Hedges was sentenced to eight years in prison minus time served.

4. Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August

A 17-year-old boy who fatally stabbed a man in Hailsham can now be named after a judge lifted reporting restrictions following his sentencing for manslaughter. Rhys Hedges, 17, from Hellingly, was charged with the murder of 20-year-old Billy Ripley, who died after an altercation in August 2024. A jury at Lewes Crown Court found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter following a trial which concluded on March 28. The court heard that police were called to Vicarage Field in Hailsham at around 6.20pm on August 29, 2024, following reports of a man being stabbed. Billy was found lying in an alleyway near The Hailsham Club with a single stab wound to the chest. Despite the best efforts of paramedics and officers, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses reported seeing the victim sitting on a bench in the town centre when Hedges approached. After a verbal exchange, the pair - who were known to each other - moved into the alleyway where the incident took place. CCTV footage showed an altercation between the two near the entrance to Hailsham Parish Church. Billy then staggered away, calling out he had been stabbed, before collapsing. The suspect fled the scene but was quickly identified and arrested at an address in Hailsham later that evening. He was subsequently charged and remanded in custody. On May 23, at Lewes Crown Court, Hedges was sentenced to eight years in prison minus time served. Photo: Sussex Police