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.
33. Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A serial burglar has been jailed following commercial break-ins in Brighton. James Jackson, 38, of no fixed address, began his series on February 8 when he smashed his way into a restaurant in Ship Street. Despite nothing being reported stolen from the property, a disorganised search had clearly taken place, and extensive damage was caused. Just five days later he forced his way into a bakery in North Road, and stole two electronic tablets and high value produce. Next, on March 17, Jackson broke into a jewellery shop in Dukes Lane, and managed to make off with a large quantity of pieces, totalling nearly £100,000. In a fourth incident on April 1, a bar in Western Road was targeted by Jackson when a glass panel on the door was smashed. An electronic tablet and money was stolen from the premises. Following a series of enquiries, Jackson was arrested on April 10, however further evidence was needed in order to secure charges, and so he was conditionally bailed. Jackson was rearrested and charged with all four offences just a couple of days later, and then appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court on April 14 where he was remanded into custody. With mounting evidence against him, Jackson pleaded guilty to two burglary charges, however continued to deny his involvement in both the Western Road and Dukes Lane burglaries. He went on trial on June 24 at Chichester Crown Court and was found guilty of committing both burglaries. On June 27, Jackson was sentenced to three years in prison. Photo: Sussex Police
34. Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
Chichester man George de Bathe has been jailed for abusing and controlling five women, including multiple rapes. Between 2015 and 2019, de Bathe, 25, of North Mead in Chichester, subjected the victims to a catalogue of physical, sexual and psychological violence. De Bathe sought to control their actions during separate relationships, from who they could see and when, to the clothes they could wear. He would use violence and threats to exert control over them, including threats with a knife and assaults so severe they would lose consciousness. Some victims were stopped from going to work, had their movements tracked through their mobile phones and locked in his car while he drove dangerously. Four of the victims reported being raped or sexually assaulted by him, some on multiple occasions. In April, 2018, one of the victims reported to Sussex Police she had been abused by de Bathe over a period of several months. She also contacted multiple women connected with de Bathe, to warn them of his behaviour and see if they had had similar experiences. De Bathe was arrested and bailed under strict conditions while evidence was gathered. Police made contact with the other women named by the initial victim and, over the course of the investigation, four additional victims were identified. In January, 2024, following a complex investigation, de Bathe was charged with six counts of rape, eight counts of actual bodily harm, five counts of coercive and controlling behaviour, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of false imprisonment and one count of making threats to kill. On April 29, following a trial at Portsmouth Crown Court, de Bathe was found guilty of all charges except one count of actual bodily harm, of which he was found not guilty. He was remanded in custody. At the same court on July 11, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison, with 17 to be spent in custody. Photo: Sussex Police
35. Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A man who committed a series of residential break-ins in Crawley Down has been jailed. The incidents occurred in the vicinity of Bowers Place in the early hours of March 22 this year. Tony Cooper, 32, of no fixed address, was tracked down in his vehicle on the A27 near Arundel two days later and arrested. He was charged with fraud by false representation, four counts of attempted burglary and three counts of theft from a vehicle, and remanded in custody to appear before Crawley Magistrates’ Court on March 26, where he pleaded guilty to all offences. He was further remanded in custody and appeared before Portsmouth Crown Court on July 4, where he was sentenced to a total of 21 months’ imprisonment. Photo: Sussex Police
36. Locked up in Sussex 2025: These are some of the criminals jailed between May and August
A Polegate man has been jailed and given a restraining order following a serious domestic assault in Eastbourne. Oliver McDonald, 53, of Brookside Avenue, appeared at Lewes Crown Court on June 25 for sentencing. The court heard that on September 3 last year, McDonald’s victim, 64, had told the defendant that she wanted to end their relationship due to his aggressive behaviour over the previous six months. The following day she had gone to their shared residence to collect some of her belongings. As she was leaving, she was approached by the defendant who was entering the building. He asked what she was doing with her bags and she told him she was leaving with them. He then became violent and lunged at her, strangling, punching and kicking her. He also took her mobile phone from her. The victim was eventually able to leave and drove to a local police station to report the incident. McDonald followed her there and was arrested on suspicion of non-fatal strangulation and actual bodily harm. He was later charged with theft, assault by beating and two counts of strangulation. McDonald initially pleaded not guilty to the charges but then changed his pleas to guilty on all counts. He was sentenced to two years and nine months in jail, given a 10-year restraining order and ordered to pay a surcharge of £228. Photo: Sussex Police