These are some of the most serious, high profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the final month of 2025.
All information comes directly from Sussex Police.
13. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in December 2025
Serial toothbrush and Jellycat shoplifter, Jason Thorpe, has been jailed for 50 weeks. Between August 9 and October 28, the 54-year-old, of no fixed address, stole high-value electric toothbrushes, Jellycat soft toys, books, candles, and other goods in a series of offences targeting shops in Portslade, Hove and central Brighton. Thorpe made no attempt to pay when he entered Tesco in Portslade on August 9 and stole a £160 electric toothbrush. He appeared to favour this particular item, returning to several supermarkets throughout August and taking many similar products from the shelves. Thorpe also entered Bert’s Homestore in Hove on August 21, August 23 and September 14, each time leaving with a collection of expensive Jellycat toys without paying. Further incidents were reported in October, including the theft of a number of candles from the Neptune showroom in Hove, and the theft of health products from Holland & Barrett in Brighton. Officers investigating the series identified Thorpe as the suspect, and he was arrested on November 27. He was charged the following day with 11 counts of theft from a shop and appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on November 29, where he pleaded guilty on all counts. Thorpe was sentenced the same day to 50 weeks in prison. Photo: Sussex Police
14. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in December 2025
A prolific thief who targeted shops in Burgess Hill and Crowborough has been sentenced. Mark Vine committed shop thefts at stores in the towns between October and December. His thefts amounted to hundreds of pounds worth of goods taken. Staff at stores were abused by the 48-year-old, who admitted 19 charges when he appeared for sentencing at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on December 8. Vine, of no fixed address, was jailed for 18 weeks. The court was told how he was rough-sleeping in the Mid Sussex area, and entered shops in Burgess Hill. Vine entered the Waitrose store in Crowborough where he stole meat and alcoholic spirits on five occasions in October. He also entered the stores including Boots, Bodel Bros Ltd, Lidl, and Waitrose in Burgess Hill. Photo: Sussex Police
15. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in December 2025
A St Leonards drug dealer has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment following a trial at Lewes Crown Court. Ammar Hroub, 25, from London Road, St Leonards, denied being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine, and possession of criminal property. Following a trial that concluded on December 18, a jury convicted him unanimously of all drug supply offences. He was cleared of possession of criminal property. During the summer of 2023, police became aware of a county drugs line operating in Kent and the Hastings and St Leonards area. Examination of a drug user’s mobile phone identified the line number. Further enquiries with the phone service provider revealed that the line had been used to send drug marketing messages to multiple users on more than 200 occasions between November 2022 and August 2023. Enquiries also showed that the phone line had been topped up at a shop in the St Leonards area. Police recovered CCTV of Hroub conducting the transaction. Hroub was subsequently arrested and a BMW linked to him was searched. Officers found 71 wraps of crack cocaine and 59 wraps of diamorphine (heroin) in the driver’s door pocket, along with a further 470 grams of loose diamorphine. The drugs line phone was also recovered from the vehicle. A drug expert valued the seized drugs at £1,770. Upon arrest Hroub was also found in possession of a single wrap of MDMA and £390 in cash. Forensic examination of the drug wraps identified Hroub’s DNA on the knots of the packaging containing the heroin and crack cocaine. Cell site analysis showed that both the drugs line phone and Hroub’s personal mobile phone travelled together to London and back via Kent on numerous occasions during the offending period, consistent with trips to restock heroin and crack cocaine. Photo: Sussex Police