These are some of the most serious, high profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the fourth month of 2024.
All information comes directly from Sussex Police.
9. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in April 2024
A dangerous driver who reached speeds of 80mph in a 30mph zone in Burgess Hill has been sentenced. Paul Rudkin was the driver of a blue Mini Cooper which failed to stop for police in Keymer Road. He was wanted on a warrant for failing to attend court for drug driving. The 42-year-old drove away at high speed, and attempted dangerous overtaking of other vehicles. But he hit a puddle and lost control, and was arrested by officers from the Roads Policing Unit and Tactical Firearms Unit. It was found that he was once again more than ten times the legal limit for cocaine in his system. At Crawley Magistrates' Court on April 10 he admitted two counts of drug driving, following an earlier hearing at Lewes Crown Court on January 8 where Rudkin was sentenced to ten months in prison. Photo: Sussex Police
10. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in April 2024
A man who was part of a group who robbed an elderly man in his home in Hailsham has been sentenced. Joshua McKenzie was in a group of four people who broke into the property in Ersham Road in the early hours of October 7 last year. A man in his 80s was threatened for money and was struck during the incident, then cash was taken from the address. McKenzie was linked after his DNA was found at the scene. After a trial at Lewes Crown Court, McKenzie, 41, of Orchard Grove, Penge, was found guilty of robbery. On April 10 he was sentenced to nine years in prison. Photo: Sussex Police
11. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in April 2024
A Brighton man who assaulted a woman before a three-hour stand-off with police officers has been jailed. Shortly after midnight on August 24, 2023, police were called to a property in High Street, Brighton, to reports of a woman being assaulted and threatened. Officers attended the scene and Oliver Phipps, 39, of no fixed address, was found sat on a ninth-storey window ledge wielding two large knives. Specialist negotiators engaged with Phipps for around three hours, while he threw items from the window, including a mirror and a bedside cabinet, to the street below. Phipps was finally arrested after coming down from the ledge in the early hours of the morning. He was subsequently charged with two counts of causing actual bodily harm, affray, criminal damage and intentional strangulation. He pleaded guilty to affray, criminal damage and one count of causing actual bodily harm, and was found guilty of intentional strangulation. He was found not guilty of one count of causing actual bodily harm. At Lewes Crown Court on April 12, Phipps was jailed for three years and six months. Photo: Sussex Police
12. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in April 2024
A roofer from Horsham has been jailed for a violent assault on a woman. On August 18, a woman in her 40s reported having suffered a sustained assault on the night of August 15 and morning of August 16. She suffered significant injuries requiring hospital treatment. It was heard that Sam Everitt assaulted his victim throughout the night as they travelled from Croydon to Horsham, leaving her out of consciousness on multiple occasions. Everitt, 34, of no fixed address, was identified as a suspect and actively sought for arrest. After several address checks and weeks of tracking, Everitt was located and arrested on October 18. He was charged with Section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent. Everitt appeared before Chichester Crown Court and pleaded guilty to Section 20 grievous bodily harm. He was sentenced to three years and seven months’ imprisonment and handed a five-year retraining order against the victim. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge. Everitt’s victim is being supported by specialist officers. Photo: Sussex Police