Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in February 2026

By Matt Pole

Published 2nd Mar 2026, 11:27 BST

Sussex’s judges, juries and magistrates were busy in February.

These are some of the most serious, high profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the second month of 2026.

All information comes directly from Sussex Police.

1. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in February 2026

These are some of the most serious, high profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in Sussex in the second month of 2026. Photo: Sussex Police

A man who assaulted and abused a woman at an address in Crowborough has now been jailed for his actions. Between April 2024 and May 2025, the victim, a woman in her 60s, was attacked on a number of occasions by 64-year-old Ashley Gaunt. Gaunt, of Poplar Crescent, West Ewell, began the pattern of violence in April 2024, repeatedly punching the victim, as well as verbally abusing her. The final incident left the victim fighting for her life on May 12, 2025, when Gaunt approached the victim and attacked her while making threats that he was going to kill her. He dragged her by her hair and attempted to smother her. The victim escaped and the incident was reported, leading to Gaunt being located and placed in cuffs the same day. He was conditionally bailed while the wider investigation took place, resulting in charges being authorised in December. On December 10, 2025, Gaunt appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court, charged with five counts of assault, one of intentional suffocation and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Gaunt pleaded guilty to the offences, and was bailed ahead of his sentencing. On February 11 at Lewes Crown Court, Gaunt was sentenced to three years in prison and given a 10 year restraining order.

2. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in February 2026

A man who assaulted and abused a woman at an address in Crowborough has now been jailed for his actions. Between April 2024 and May 2025, the victim, a woman in her 60s, was attacked on a number of occasions by 64-year-old Ashley Gaunt. Gaunt, of Poplar Crescent, West Ewell, began the pattern of violence in April 2024, repeatedly punching the victim, as well as verbally abusing her. The final incident left the victim fighting for her life on May 12, 2025, when Gaunt approached the victim and attacked her while making threats that he was going to kill her. He dragged her by her hair and attempted to smother her. The victim escaped and the incident was reported, leading to Gaunt being located and placed in cuffs the same day. He was conditionally bailed while the wider investigation took place, resulting in charges being authorised in December. On December 10, 2025, Gaunt appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court, charged with five counts of assault, one of intentional suffocation and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Gaunt pleaded guilty to the offences, and was bailed ahead of his sentencing. On February 11 at Lewes Crown Court, Gaunt was sentenced to three years in prison and given a 10 year restraining order. Photo: Sussex Police

A 23-year-old man from Crawley and a 42-year-old man from Saltdean have been jailed for running the ‘Charlie’ drug line. The men came to the attention of officers through mobile phone intel of the drug line in May of last year. Officers established the pair were operating the line. It was understood that 23-year-old Charlie Harris (left) was the controller, and 42-year-old Ross Sandwell (right) held the mobile line used to run the operation. Warrants were executed by Sussex Police and Metropolitan Police officers on May 14, 2025, at two addresses: one in Suez Way, Brighton and another in Johnson Walk, Crawley. Officers seized a number of items including three mobile phones, two SIM cards, a quantity of cannabis, and £245 in cash from the address in Crawley. Harris was located at the property and arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. He was recalled to prison after being released on licence whilst serving a sentence for a previous drug supply conviction that he was jailed for in May 2024. During the warrant at the address in Suez Way, officers seized two mobile phones, and a quantity of cannabis was seized. Sandwell was also located and arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and for possession of a class B drug. The next day Harris and Sandwell were each charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, possession of a class B drug and being concerned in the offer to supply heroin. Both men appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court and were remanded into custody. On June 10, 2025, Sandwell and Harris appeared and Crawley Magistrates’ Court and both pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, both Sandwell and Harris changed their pleas to guilty ahead of the trial due at Lewes Crown Court on November 3, 2025. Both men instead appeared at Brighton Crown Court on January 30 this year for sentencing. Charlie Harris, 23, of Johnson Walk, Crawley was jailed for five years and six months. Ross Sandwell, 42, of Suez Way,

3. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in February 2026

A 23-year-old man from Crawley and a 42-year-old man from Saltdean have been jailed for running the ‘Charlie’ drug line. The men came to the attention of officers through mobile phone intel of the drug line in May of last year. Officers established the pair were operating the line. It was understood that 23-year-old Charlie Harris (left) was the controller, and 42-year-old Ross Sandwell (right) held the mobile line used to run the operation. Warrants were executed by Sussex Police and Metropolitan Police officers on May 14, 2025, at two addresses: one in Suez Way, Brighton and another in Johnson Walk, Crawley. Officers seized a number of items including three mobile phones, two SIM cards, a quantity of cannabis, and £245 in cash from the address in Crawley. Harris was located at the property and arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. He was recalled to prison after being released on licence whilst serving a sentence for a previous drug supply conviction that he was jailed for in May 2024. During the warrant at the address in Suez Way, officers seized two mobile phones, and a quantity of cannabis was seized. Sandwell was also located and arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and for possession of a class B drug. The next day Harris and Sandwell were each charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, possession of a class B drug and being concerned in the offer to supply heroin. Both men appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court and were remanded into custody. On June 10, 2025, Sandwell and Harris appeared and Crawley Magistrates’ Court and both pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, both Sandwell and Harris changed their pleas to guilty ahead of the trial due at Lewes Crown Court on November 3, 2025. Both men instead appeared at Brighton Crown Court on January 30 this year for sentencing. Charlie Harris, 23, of Johnson Walk, Crawley was jailed for five years and six months. Ross Sandwell, 42, of Suez Way, Photo: Sussex Police

Two men who admitted killing a sheep on the South Downs in 2023 have been given custodial sentences. Leighton Ashby, 22, a British national of Beckett Road in Ashford, Kent, and Oakley Hollands, 20, a British national of Mussenden Lane in Horton Kirby, Kent, drove up to a field near Ditchling Beacon on the evening of November 2, 2023, and began chasing sheep. The pair caught one sheep and violently assaulted it, using explosive ‘bangers’ to cause catastrophic injuries to the animal. Footage of Ashby carrying out the attack was found on Hollands’ phone, as well as videos of an unidentified person attacking both live and deceased animals. The sheep’s ear tags were also found in a property nearby, understood to have been taken from the scene by Ashby. The attack was reported to Sussex Police on November 6, 2023. Both men were swiftly arrested on November 8, 2023, and subsequently charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on August 7, 2025, both men pleaded guilty. At Lewes Crown Court on February 23, Ashby was jailed for two years. Hollands was sentenced to 20 months in a young offenders’ institute.

4. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in February 2026

Two men who admitted killing a sheep on the South Downs in 2023 have been given custodial sentences. Leighton Ashby, 22, a British national of Beckett Road in Ashford, Kent, and Oakley Hollands, 20, a British national of Mussenden Lane in Horton Kirby, Kent, drove up to a field near Ditchling Beacon on the evening of November 2, 2023, and began chasing sheep. The pair caught one sheep and violently assaulted it, using explosive ‘bangers’ to cause catastrophic injuries to the animal. Footage of Ashby carrying out the attack was found on Hollands’ phone, as well as videos of an unidentified person attacking both live and deceased animals. The sheep’s ear tags were also found in a property nearby, understood to have been taken from the scene by Ashby. The attack was reported to Sussex Police on November 6, 2023. Both men were swiftly arrested on November 8, 2023, and subsequently charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on August 7, 2025, both men pleaded guilty. At Lewes Crown Court on February 23, Ashby was jailed for two years. Hollands was sentenced to 20 months in a young offenders’ institute. Photo: Sussex Police