Over the last month there have been sentencings for a despicable, unprovoked murder, a second drug-related homicide and a tragic reminder of what can happen if we switch off while driving for even a second.
1. Alan Neville Clarke
At Lewes Crown Court on Friday, November 13, Alan Neville Clarke was jailed for eight months after pleading guilty to possessing indecent images of children, and for a further 16 months for breaching a previously imposed sexual offending prevention order. Clarke, 53, of Leybourne Road in Brighton, was found to have disregarded the sex offence prevention order given in 2013 by deleting a system from his computer that allowed police to check his online access. He had also installed a file-sharing application without police agreement and changed his email address. Clarke was found to have made more indecent images of children, including some in the most serious category. Detective Constable Sarah Hart of the Brighton Violent and Sexual Offender team (VISOR) said; "Clarke deliberately set out to acquire further indecent images of children and to conceal that fact from the police. However he was detected by our supervision and brought to justice once again."
2. Bobby Smith
Bobby Smith, 22, of Coolham Drive, Brighton, was jailed for life for the unprovoked murder of Muhammed Lamin Jassey on April 5. Smith, with Daryl Richardson, 26, of Cumberland Road, Portsmouth, approached Muhammed in Whitehawk Road on the afternoon of Sunday, April 5, and were seen by CCTV and three witnesses attacking him. Muhammed died of a single stab wound to his chest. CCTV showed the pair then fled into a flat in Kite Place West. They were arrested shortly after and found with bloodstained clothes and Muhammed's phone. Smith was jailed for a minimum of 24 years on November 19 and Richardson for at least 25 years. No motive was uncovered. Muhammed Jassey's family said: "Muhammed was a good son, our first born whose life was taken too soon. A kind, strong, handsome, funny, caring, loving person who always looked after people, he was also a brother, partner, father and part of a large and loving extended family. We are all devastated by his loss, we love him dearly and he will be missed every day."
3. Daryl Richardson
As mentioned above, 26-year-old Daryl Richardson, of Cumberland Road in Portsmouth, was jailed for a minimum of 25 years on November 19 for the unprovoked murder of Muhammed Lamin Jassey in April. Richardson and his accomplice Bobby Smith, 22, were seen by three witnesses and CCTV cameras during the attack in broad daylight. Muhammed Jassey's family said: "Muhammed was a good son, our first born whose life was taken too soon. A kind, strong, handsome, funny, caring, loving person who always looked after people, he was also a brother, partner, father and part of a large and loving extended family. We are all devastated by his loss, we love him dearly and he will be missed every day."
4. Daniel Macleod
Daniel Macleod, 37, was jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering Brighton's Abdul Deghayes. Abdul, 22, was found critically injured in a car that crashed in Elm Grove, Brighton, at 9.30pm on February 16 last year. He had been stabbed eight times in the legs, buttocks and back by Macleod, of Gypsy Road in Lambeth, during what police called a 'brutal attack' in Hanover Court. Abdul sadly died from his injuries at 6am on February 17. The capture of Macleod revealed the extent of his drug dealing activities in Brighton, which police said were indicative of organised crime. He was jailed for a minimum of 19 years for murder and 85 months for conspiring to supply Class A and B drugs, with both sentences to run concurrently.