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.
41. Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
An arsonist who caused damage to a restaurant toilet in Haywards Heath has been sentenced. Alan Burren twice entered the KFC restaurant in South Road to start a fire in separate incidents. He also caused damage to furniture at a Premier Inn hotel in the town. Footage showed the 48-year-old causing a fire in the toilets, and not doing anything to raise the alarm. It left a member of the public engulfed in smoke. At Lewes Crown Court on July 25, he admitted two arson charges and a further criminal damage charge. Burren, formerly of America Lane, Haywards Heath, was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison. The court was told how the first incident happened on November 3 last year, with CCTV showing him entering KFC and going straight towards the toilets. Moments later, Burren left the restaurant, without informing staff or raising the alarm about the fire. On January 5 this year, he caused criminal damage to a room at the Premier Inn in Perrymount Road, including using a permanent marker on mirrors and sofas, and using cutting tools on furniture. Then on March 10 this year he entered the KFC restaurant again, starting a fire in the toilets that was discovered by a member of the public. Officers from Mid Sussex Response completed a search of the area and found Burren near Clair Park. Following an investigation by detectives from Crawley CID, Burren was charged with two counts of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered, and one count criminal damage. When arrested, he was also found in possession of cocaine, and was convicted for possession of a class A drug in a separate court hearing in June. Photo: Sussex Police
42. Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A prolific offender who embarked on a £2,000 shoplifting spree across Worthing and Arun has been jailed again. Police were able to build a comprehensive file of evidence against Joanne Cook thanks to early reporting from the businesses she targeted. Her crime spree occurred from April 2 to April 15 this year where she stole items including alcohol, meat, cosmetics and household cleaning products, worth almost £2,000 combined. The incidents happened at the Co-Op stores in South Street, Cricketers Parade, Tarring Road, Field Place Parade, New Broadway and Goring Road in Worthing; as well as Sainsbury’s at Lyons Farm; Paydens Pharmacy in Broadwater Boulevard; Boots in The Street, Rustington; One Stop in North Lane, East Preston; and Tesco in Sterling Parade, Rustington. In total, she was arrested and charged with 14 count of shoplifting, 12 counts of breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order and possession of a bladed article in public, at Worthing Custody Centre in Durrington. The 36-year-old, of Clarendon Road, Broadwater, pleaded guilty to all offences and appeared before Lewes Crown Court on July 22, where she was sentenced to a total of 34 weeks’ imprisonment Photo: Sussex Police