Sussex’s judges, juries and magistrates were busy in August.
These are some of the most serious, high-profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the fifth month of 2023.
All information comes directly from Sussex Police.
5. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in August 2023
A prolific burglar who committed ten offences in Hastings has been jailed. Peter Harlow appeared before Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday 8 August and was sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to seven counts of burglary and three counts of fraud by false representation at an earlier hearing. The court heard that on Thursday 20 April, Harlow, 36, of Kilnmead, Northgate, Crawley, broke into a property in Lower Park Road and stole a bicycle, camera and jewellery. His DNA was found at the scene. Later that day, Harlow forced entry into a property in Redmayne Drive and carried out an untidy search. His fingerprints were found at the scene. On Sunday 23 April, Harlow broke into a property in The Green, St Leonards, and stole a bank card which he later used at a store in Bohemia Road. CCTV showed Harlow using the card. The next day, on Monday 24 April, Harlow was seen on CCTV in possession of a hatchet axe, having stolen a bank card and cash from an address in Priory Close. He later used this bank card at Morrisons in Queens Road, before attempting to use it another two times at an off license in Queens Road, but both transactions were declined. Later that day, he stole jewellery, cash and a bank card reader at a property in Braybrooke Road. His fingerprints were found on a bottle of whisky inside the address and he was later seen on CCTV attempting to sell items of jewellery at Moons Jewellery in Robertson Street. On Tuesday 25 April, Harlow forced entry into a property in Charles Road West, St Leonards, and stole bank cards, a push bike, an iPad and an iPhone. The following day, he was seen on CCTV searching various rooms at an address in Chapel Park Road, before making off on a stolen bicycle. Harlow was subsequently arrested on Saturday 29 April. He was later charged with seven counts of burglary and three counts of fraud by false representation, and remanded in custody. Photo: Sussex Police
6. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in August 2023
A man who violently assaulted a vulnerable woman in her own home in Eastbourne will spend 16 months behind bars, according to police. Police said Fabio Paulo, 28, of Blenheim Drive, Hawkinge, Kent, repeatedly kicked and punched the woman, who was known to him, while demanding she gave him £500 at her address on March 18 this year. A Sussex Police spokesperson added: “When she refused his demand he then plugged in her hair straighteners and burnt her with them causing injuries to her skin. The attack left the woman in hospital with 13 separate injuries, including an imprint on the back of her shoulder where Paulo had forcefully stamped on her.” Paulo even went as far as calling the woman’s family and sending pictures of her injuries in an attempt to obtain the money, according to officers. The spokesperson added: “He fled the scene when police arrived, stealing the woman’s mobile phone in the process, but was soon tracked down and arrested by officers.” Police said Paulo was charged with assault, blackmail and theft and was remanded in custody. Paulo was sentenced to a total of 16 months imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court on July 26 after pleading guilty to all three offences at an earlier hearing, police added. Officers said he was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187 and was given a five-year restraining order against the victim. Photo: Sussex Police
7. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in August 2023
A violent man who subjected his ex-partner to years of abuse has been jailed. Dean Brown, 36, of Hammer Hill, Surrey was sentenced to 16 months in prison on Friday, August 4 after he pleaded guilty to multiple violent offences and criminal damage. During the three years that Brown and the victim – a woman in her 30s from Chichester - were in a relationship, she was subject to his constant aggressive outbursts and frequent assaults. She endured a series of emotional and physical abuse by Brown, with offences spanning from July 2022 to early 2023. He threatened her while she was pregnant with their child, saying ‘I’ll kick it out of you’, and in November 2022, Brown assaulted her while she held the baby shortly after it was born. Two months later, in January 2023, Brown threw a knife at the victim, narrowly missing her and damaging a nearby wall. The incident was one of a number in which he damaged their home. Brown was arrested and subsequently charged with two counts of causing actual bodily harm, three counts of criminal damage and two counts of assault. He pleaded guilty to all charges on 11 April at Worthing Magistrates’ Court. At Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday, 4 August, Brown was jailed for 16 months and given a 10-year restraining order. Photo: Sussex Police
8. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in August 2023
A masked man has been jailed again after police prevented a ram raid burglary at a store in a West Sussex village. Alfie Smith was among an organised gang who used a stolen JCB to smash into the Co-Op in The Square, Barnham, in the early hours of 4 July. But their plan to take the cash machine and its contents was scuppered as police swiftly responded to a report of a theft of a telehandler at a nearby yard. Using local knowledge and suspecting the vehicle may be used for criminal activity, they carried out a search of known ATMs in the area, which led them to the scene. As they arrived, two suspects were able to make off in a stolen vehicle, but Smith was detained following a short foot chase. This footage shows the moments which led to the arrest of the 43-year-old, of Staines Road West, Ashford, Middlesex. He was subsequently charged with trespassing with intent to steal and aggravated taking of a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, and remanded in custody. He pleaded guilty to both offences and was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court on 2 August. However, the offence was committed while Smith was on temporary release from prison, where he was serving a 14-year sentence for a series of similar offences which he was convicted of in 2019. He was therefore ordered to serve the remaining 10 years of that sentence on top (16 years total). Photo: Sussex Police