These are some of the most serious, high-profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the second month of 2023.
All information comes directly from Sussex Police.
13. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in February 2023
A drug-dealer faces a prison spell and then deportation after being found guilty of offences in Brighton in the run up to Pride last year, police confirmed. Sussex Police said Elton Bakijasi was stopped by officers from the Specialist Enforcement Unit (SEU) at the junction of Powis Grove and Dyke Road after being suspected of using his vehicle for dealing class A drugs. As he was arrested, he tried to kick a cubby hole in the vehicle shut. Police said officers found 27 grip seal bags contained inside, and also found evidence that Bakijasi was using a false Italian driving licence. Sussex Police said he was charged with possession of a class A drug with intent to supply and with possession of false identity documents with intent. Following an investigation by Detective Thornton-Green from Brighton CID, he was convicted at Hove Crown Court on January 27 and has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. The court heard how the SEU officers stopped the blue Ford Fiesta driven by Bakijasi at 7.10pm on August 3. Police said Bakijasi, 44, unemployed of Station Road, Portslade, did not have a valid licence and the vehicle was not registered in his name. He will also face a deportation order upon his release, police added. The operation was part of a crackdown carried out by Brighton and Hove’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, Tactical Enforcement Unit, Specialist Enforcement Unit, and Dedicated Coaching Unit. The four-day operation included 50 searches of individuals, properties and vehicles, resulting in the seizures of: 165 wraps of Class A drugs worth around £10,000; over 30 cannabis portions of varying quantities; nine weapons; five vehicles; £5,250 in cash; and eight people were arrested and three vulnerable people were safeguarded with reports written to support them Photo: Sussex Police
14. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in February 2023
A ‘prolific shoplifter’ has been jailed just days after he went on a ‘crime spree’ in Worthing, police have said. Officers said Jordan Thomson, 30, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment after he stole items costing a totel of £969. A Sussex Police spokesperson added: “He stole batteries from Wilko in the Guildbourne Centre on January 2; meat from Co-Op in South Street on January 8 and January 9; meat and a smoothie from Tesco Express in Rectory Road on January 9; and laundry detergent from Wilko on January 16. On each occasion he was identified by staff who reported it to police.” Thomson was arrested and charged with five counts of theft, which he pleaded guilty to, according to police. Officers said Thomson was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, January 24.Thomson was arrested and charged with five counts of theft, which he pleaded guilty to, according to police. Photo: Sussex Police
15. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in February 2023
An Eastbourne man has been jailed after attempting to steal cash from a Greggs store in Worthing. Police arrested Robert Jody May (pictured) in the early hours on October 9, after he and Patrick Knight had activated an intruder alarm in the bakery chain on Montague Street, Worthing. May, 48, and Knight, 52, forced entry via a roof hatch, causing extensive damage, and stole a quantity of cash from the safe of the store. Both men were charged with burglary. These included Superdrug in Terminus Road and The Tattoo Lounge and The Works in Station Street, all taking place in January 2021. He was given a suspended sentence order, which meant if he committed any further offences within a specified time frame, he could face prison. Following the Greggs break-in arrest, May pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to a total of 18 months’ imprisonment – which included the activation of his suspended sentence for the previous offences – at Lewes Crown Court on January 6. Knight failed to attend and police say enquiries are ongoing to locate him. Photo: Sussex Police