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.
21. Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A man who threatened two people with a machete in broad daylight has been jailed for more than four years. Theo Van Der Vlugt, 21, of Washington Street in Brighton, was initially under investigation following his arrest on January 17 for drugs offences in the area. He was released on bail while further enquiries were carried out in connection to his involvement in supplying Class A drugs. While on bail, Van Der Vlugt was involved in a violent incident in Dyke Road, Brighton, on April 7. Armed with a machete, he approached two men and began swinging the weapon at them, narrowly avoiding causing serious injury. The incident was reported to police, and a search of the area was carried out, but Van Der Vlugt had already fled the scene. An investigation was launched, and officers quickly identified a suspect. Van Der Vlugt was arrested four days later at his home address, where he was also found in possession of Class A and Class B drugs. He was taken into custody and charged the following day with: threatening a person with a blade in a public place; four counts of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug; possession of Class A drugs; possession of Class B drugs. Van Der Vlugt appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on April 14, and was remanded into custody ahead of further court proceedings. He pleaded guilty to all offences on May 14, and was sentenced the following day at Lewes Crown Court to four years and two months in prison. Photo: Sussex Police
22. Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A man who dictated what his former partner could wear, eat and drink and where she could go has been jailed for engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour. Between October 2020 and May 2023, Peter Chapman, 42, of Derwent Close, Littlehampton, controlled his victim’s life which caused her extreme psychological harm. Chapman was sentenced to three years in jail and was given a five-year restraining order when he appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on June 6 after he was found guilty of engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour following a trial on April 11. The court heard that Chapman first met his victim on an online gaming platform in 2019 and lured her to move in with him almost 200 miles away. They had only met once prior to this. After a while, Chapman’s behaviour changed towards the victim. When she became pregnant with his child and experienced morning sickness, he would complain and become abusive to her when she was sick. He would be abusive about her cooking and throw plates of food on the floor. He also stopped her from registering at a doctor as he did not want her name linked to his address and once the baby was born, he often prevented them from leaving the home to go out. Chapman also installed a RING doorbell and CCTV cameras inside and outside the property so he could monitor the victim’s movements. She fled the address on three occasions; however Chapman convinced her to return claiming he would change his behaviour. During one of these occasions, he was arrested and placed on bail, however he contacted her and forced her to withdraw her statement and not support a police prosecution. However Chapman was later charged with the controlling and coercive behaviour. Photo: Sussex Police
23. Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A dangerous driver who led police on a high-speed pursuit has been disqualified. Anthony Yewman, 46, drove away from officers at Handcross after initially stopping. He reached high speeds up to 60mph in a 30mph zone as he drove south into Brighton. Officers saw him overtake other vehicles on a blind bend, and undertake other vehicles. But he lost control at the Mill Road roundabout at Patcham, striking a kerb and damaging the blue Ford Mondeo he was driving. Officers from the Roads Policing Unit used specialist tactics to safely stop Yewman on the A23 near Preston Park, where he was arrested. Yewman, of no fixed address, appeared before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on May 19 where he admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving while disqualified, driving without valid insurance, fraudulent use of a vehicle registration mark, and breaching a restraining order. He was sentenced to one year in prison and the court imposed a 10-year driving disqualification. The court was told how the incident happened at 11.35pm on May 16 this year at Handcross. After initially stopping for police, he made off at speed along the A23 southbound. Photo: Sussex Police
24. Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A man has been sentenced to a total of nine years in prison following two violent assaults in Sussex pubs. Luke Boughey, 46, of Stephenson Way, Crawley, was convicted of two counts of grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent after separate incidents in Crawley and Burgess Hill in 2022. He was sentenced on May 9, at Hove Crown Court, following a week-long trial which began on March 3. The first incident occurred on August 11, 2022 at the White Heart Pub in Crawley. Boughey assaulted a man with a pool cue following a disagreement over a game of pool. The victim suffered swelling and bruising to the face and head, along with a bleed to the brain. Boughey received a four-year sentence for this assault. The second incident took place on November 13, 2022 at the Brewers Pub in Burgess Hill. Boughey struck another man in the face with a pool cue while the victim was speaking to a friend. The victim sustained a fractured cheek bone in three places. He was sentenced to five years for this assault. Boughey will serve his sentences consecutively Photo: Sussex Police