Sussex’s judges, juries and magistrates were busy in December.
These are some of the most serious, high-profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the final month of 2023.
All information comes directly from Sussex Police.
5. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in December 2023
A former teacher and football referee from Eastbourne who sexually assaulted a young boy in the 1990s has been jailed for 14 years. Police said Peter Turner, 65, of Redoubt Road, abused his position of trust to repeatedly assault his victim in multiple locations including the school classroom, his office and home address. He also actively ingratiated himself with the victim’s family to gain closer access to him and mask his offending, police added. His offending came to light in 2016 when his victim reported to the police. Turner was no longer working as a teacher at that time. An extremely complex investigation was launched, including the forensic examination of over 70 electronic devices seized from Turner’s address, while the victim was supported by specialist officers. Turner was subsequently charged on seven counts of indecent assault on a boy under 14 in 2022. At Hove Crown Court on Friday, November 3, he was found guilty on all counts. At Hove Crown Court on Wednesday, November 23, Turner was sentenced to 14 years in prison, will be on the sex offenders’ register for life. Photo: Sussex Police
6. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in December 2023
A man who sexually assaulted five women as they walked in public in Bexhill has been given a seven-year sentence, police have confirmed. Max Wright, 27, formerly of Amherst Road in Bexhill, was charged with five counts of sexual assault relating to three separate incidents between November 2022 and June 2023. The first incident was reported on November 20, 2022. A woman walking alone from Bexhill Railway Station the night before was grabbed and sexually assaulted by a man giving the name of Maximiliano. Police said she engaged him in conversation to placate him, before running away from the scene. An investigation was launched the next day including extensive CCTV trawls and house to house enquiries, but a suspect could not be identified. Overnight on April 15/16, 2023, three women walking from Cooden Railway Station were repeatedly sexually assaulted by a man who threatened to rape them before fleeing the scene. It was reported on April 16 and officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team visited the scene the same day, carried out enquiries and identified a suspect. Wright was arrested the next day, linked to both incidents and released on conditional bail while further enquiries were carried out. In the early hours of June 24, another woman was sexually assaulted while walking in Bexhill by a man who threatened to rape her. Police said that she was on the phone to a friend at the time and managed to capture brief footage of the attack. Wright was swiftly identified as a suspect, arrested within hours and subsequently charged with five counts of sexual assault. He pleaded guilty to all counts on July 24 at Hove Crown Court. At the same court on December 1, Wright was given a four-year jail sentence, with another three years to be spent on licence. He was also given restraining orders against each victim and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely. Photo: Sussex Police
7. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in December 2023
Two notorious drug dealers have been jailed after police disrupted their illegal activity in Crawley. Anton Reynolds and Wayne McFarlane (pictured) were arrested during County Lines Intensification Week, which ran from 9 to 15 October. After responding to an unrelated incident earlier this year, officers discovered a bulk text message on a person’s mobile phone. Data analysis was carried out on the number the message was sent from, which revealed it was being used to run the ‘JC’ line to deliver drugs from London to Crawley. On 11 October, the second suspect, McFarlane, 28, of Cornell Square, Lambeth, was stopped by Sussex Police officers working in partnership with the Met Police’s Op Orochi team in Fullwell Road, London, and searched. A search of his address was carried out, where various drugs were located. McFarlane was arrested and charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin. Both defendants were remanded in custody and pleaded guilty to all offences. At Lewes Crown Court on Friday 17 November, McFarlane was sentenced to 38 months’ imprisonment. Photo: Sussex Police
8. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in December 2023
Two notorious drug dealers have been jailed after police disrupted their illegal activity in Crawley. Anton Reynolds (pictured) and Wayne McFarlane were arrested during County Lines Intensification Week, which ran from 9 to 15 October. After responding to an unrelated incident earlier this year, officers discovered a bulk text message on a person’s mobile phone. Data analysis was carried out on the number the message was sent from, which revealed it was being used to run the ‘JC’ line to deliver drugs from London to Crawley. On 10 October, police identified an Airbnb in the town which had been booked in the name of one of the suspects – Reynolds, 31, of Rathlin Road, Crawley. He was seen to enter the property in possession of a large holdall and then leave. He was stopped and searched, and found in possession of a number of wraps. A search of the holdall revealed a quantity of cash, while further drugs were found within the property. Reynolds was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin, being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, and possession of cannabis. At Lewes Crown Court on Friday 17 November, Reynolds was sentenced to 49 months’ imprisonment. Photo: Sussex Police