These are some of the most serious, high profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in Sussex in January 2024.These are some of the most serious, high profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in Sussex in January 2024.
These are some of the most serious, high profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in Sussex in January 2024.

Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in January 2024

By Matt Pole
Published 1st Feb 2024, 13:03 BST
Sussex’s judges, juries and magistrates were busy in January.

These are some of the most serious, high profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the first month of 2024.

All information comes directly from Sussex Police.

A Peacehaven delivery driver who raped a young girl and sexually assaulted another has been jailed, Sussex Police have said. Police said they received a report in December 2021 of a girl under the age of five having been sexually assaulted. Police said Matthew Barca, 31, of South Coast Road in Peacehaven, was arrested. Police added that officers visited the girl and her family to gather evidence and offer specialist support. Sussex Police said that during the course of the investigation a second victim reported being raped and sexually assaulted by Barca when she was a child in the 2000s. A Sussex Police spokesperson said: “(Barca) was subsequently charged with eight counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of rape of a child under 13, two counts of assault of a child by penetration and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He was also charged with possession of indecent images of children. At Lewes Crown Court on 4 August, he pleaded guilty to all counts. At the same court on Wednesday, 3 January, Barca was jailed for a total of nine years and eight months, with an additional four years and four months to be spent on extended licence after the court found him to be a danger to the public. He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order significantly reducing his access to children and digital devices, placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register and given restraining orders against his victims.”

37. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in January 2024

A Peacehaven delivery driver who raped a young girl and sexually assaulted another has been jailed, Sussex Police have said. Police said they received a report in December 2021 of a girl under the age of five having been sexually assaulted. Police said Matthew Barca, 31, of South Coast Road in Peacehaven, was arrested. Police added that officers visited the girl and her family to gather evidence and offer specialist support. Sussex Police said that during the course of the investigation a second victim reported being raped and sexually assaulted by Barca when she was a child in the 2000s. A Sussex Police spokesperson said: “(Barca) was subsequently charged with eight counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of rape of a child under 13, two counts of assault of a child by penetration and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He was also charged with possession of indecent images of children. At Lewes Crown Court on 4 August, he pleaded guilty to all counts. At the same court on Wednesday, 3 January, Barca was jailed for a total of nine years and eight months, with an additional four years and four months to be spent on extended licence after the court found him to be a danger to the public. He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order significantly reducing his access to children and digital devices, placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register and given restraining orders against his victims.” Photo: Sussex Police

A Barnham man who stabbed his friend and subjected a woman to a vicious assault has been given a 13-and-a-half year sentence at court. Callum Walsh, 29, formerly of Warren Road in Barnham, was the subject of two separate investigations – one linked to a stabbing in 2021 and a second around abuse and controlling behaviour reported in January, 2023. On the afternoon of May 23, 2021, Walsh assaulted a man at a property in Littlehampton after drinking with him all night and throughout the morning. The pair began arguing and Walsh struck the man across the head with a bottle and stabbed him, causing significant injuries. He was arrested the following day on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, charged with the same offence and released on court bail pending a hearing. While awaiting trial for the GBH, Walsh first met his victim – a woman in her 20s – in December 2022. Over the next few weeks Walsh subjected her to paranoid, coercive and threatening behaviour, attempting to control where she went and who she saw. Where he perceived her to have fallen out of his control, he would violently assault her. In the early hours of January 14, 2023, Walsh carried out a final, prolonged assault on his victim, who was able to escape her property and call the emergency services. Police attended, put safeguarding measures in place to protect her and urgently sought Walsh’s arrest. He was subsequently arrested in Cornwall in June and charged with non-fatal strangulation, causing actual bodily harm and engaging in coercive/controlling behaviour and remanded in custody. While in custody he pleaded guilty to the charge of GBH with intent relating to the separate investigation. At Lewes Crown Court on November 8, Walsh pleaded guilty to non-fatal strangulation. Charges of actual bodily harm and coercive/controlling behaviour will remain on file. He was sentenced in relation to both matters at the same court on December 22and given an extended sentence of 13-and-a-half years – with

38. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in January 2024

A Barnham man who stabbed his friend and subjected a woman to a vicious assault has been given a 13-and-a-half year sentence at court. Callum Walsh, 29, formerly of Warren Road in Barnham, was the subject of two separate investigations – one linked to a stabbing in 2021 and a second around abuse and controlling behaviour reported in January, 2023. On the afternoon of May 23, 2021, Walsh assaulted a man at a property in Littlehampton after drinking with him all night and throughout the morning. The pair began arguing and Walsh struck the man across the head with a bottle and stabbed him, causing significant injuries. He was arrested the following day on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, charged with the same offence and released on court bail pending a hearing. While awaiting trial for the GBH, Walsh first met his victim – a woman in her 20s – in December 2022. Over the next few weeks Walsh subjected her to paranoid, coercive and threatening behaviour, attempting to control where she went and who she saw. Where he perceived her to have fallen out of his control, he would violently assault her. In the early hours of January 14, 2023, Walsh carried out a final, prolonged assault on his victim, who was able to escape her property and call the emergency services. Police attended, put safeguarding measures in place to protect her and urgently sought Walsh’s arrest. He was subsequently arrested in Cornwall in June and charged with non-fatal strangulation, causing actual bodily harm and engaging in coercive/controlling behaviour and remanded in custody. While in custody he pleaded guilty to the charge of GBH with intent relating to the separate investigation. At Lewes Crown Court on November 8, Walsh pleaded guilty to non-fatal strangulation. Charges of actual bodily harm and coercive/controlling behaviour will remain on file. He was sentenced in relation to both matters at the same court on December 22and given an extended sentence of 13-and-a-half years – with Photo: Sussex Police

A wanted man was arrested in Arundel after an extensive search operation involving multiple emergency services. Danny Whiting was sought by police on recall to prison and in relation to two breaches of a restraining order. Officers traced him to an address in Mill Lane on December 28 but as they moved in to arrest him, he fled the scene. An immediate search was launched. Due to the difficult location and weather conditions, HM Coastguard was called to assist by deploying a boat and helicopter, and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was asked to help by checking the riverbank. With help from partner agencies alongside Sussex Police’s drone and dog units, Whiting was found, detained, and remanded in custody. Whiting, 29, of no fixed address, appeared before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on December 29 and was sentenced to 24 weeks’ imprisonment for two counts of breaching a restraining order. He was also ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge.

39. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in January 2024

A wanted man was arrested in Arundel after an extensive search operation involving multiple emergency services. Danny Whiting was sought by police on recall to prison and in relation to two breaches of a restraining order. Officers traced him to an address in Mill Lane on December 28 but as they moved in to arrest him, he fled the scene. An immediate search was launched. Due to the difficult location and weather conditions, HM Coastguard was called to assist by deploying a boat and helicopter, and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was asked to help by checking the riverbank. With help from partner agencies alongside Sussex Police’s drone and dog units, Whiting was found, detained, and remanded in custody. Whiting, 29, of no fixed address, appeared before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on December 29 and was sentenced to 24 weeks’ imprisonment for two counts of breaching a restraining order. He was also ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge. Photo: Sussex Police

A woman has been jailed for assault and 18 counts of shoplifting across West Sussex and Brighton. Amy Jones, 31, of no fixed address, has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for 19 offences across Sussex which span between July 4 and September 6, 2023. Across the two months, Jones targeted: Co-op, High Street, Shoreham; Waterstones, George Street, Hove; M&S, Montague Street, Worthing; Tesco Express, Goring Road, Worthing; Co-op, Plaza Parade, Worthing; Co-op, South Street, Worthing; Co-op, Rowlands Road, Worthing; and Co-op, Ham Road, Shoreham. Jones stole more than £2,000 worth of stock across the 18 incidents. She was also charged with assaulting a security guard for the incident at M&S, Montague Street on July 10. Jones was also handed a three-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) and was fined £187 compensation when she appeared before Lewes Crown Court on December 15.

40. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in January 2024

A woman has been jailed for assault and 18 counts of shoplifting across West Sussex and Brighton. Amy Jones, 31, of no fixed address, has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for 19 offences across Sussex which span between July 4 and September 6, 2023. Across the two months, Jones targeted: Co-op, High Street, Shoreham; Waterstones, George Street, Hove; M&S, Montague Street, Worthing; Tesco Express, Goring Road, Worthing; Co-op, Plaza Parade, Worthing; Co-op, South Street, Worthing; Co-op, Rowlands Road, Worthing; and Co-op, Ham Road, Shoreham. Jones stole more than £2,000 worth of stock across the 18 incidents. She was also charged with assaulting a security guard for the incident at M&S, Montague Street on July 10. Jones was also handed a three-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) and was fined £187 compensation when she appeared before Lewes Crown Court on December 15. Photo: Sussex Police

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