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.
33. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in January 2024
Jason Turner, 40, of The Crestway, Brighton was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment on January 5 following an 11-day trial last year. In November 2023, Turner was found guilty of ten charges of burglary, two of theft, one of actual bodily harm, and one of possession of a knife. The offences spanned from January 12 to February 9, 2023, across 13 locations throughout Brighton. The prolific burglar was initially charged with eight offences in February 2023, but later linked and charged with a further five after forensics and CCTV confirmed he was at each of the scenes. To start off his series of crimes, in the early hours of January 12, Turner forcefully entered a travel agent in Western Road. He stole a TV, computers, and a vacuum cleaner before making his escape. Despite stealing a vacuum cleaner, this certainly wasn't a clean getaway. After undergoing forensic examination, Turner's fingerprints were found at the scene, which later linked him to the crime. Four days later, on January 16, Turner entered a shop in Station Road, Hove, where he stole a mobile phone. After being confronted on the street by a member of staff, Turner headbutted the victim, committing actual bodily harm. Police attended the scene, and Turner was spoken to about the incident. Turner claimed to be the victim in the incident but, following further enquiries, a warrant was issued for his arrest and police proactively tried to locate him. On the evening of January 24, Turner entered a pub in York Place under the guise of needing to use the bathroom. The pub was empty as it was about to close for the evening and Turner used this as an opportunity to steal the takings from the till. Spotting what was happening, a staff member confronted Turner and tried to prevent him taking the cash, but was told, “If you do, you’ll get hurt”. Turner then made a swift getaway. In the early morning of January 26, Turner entered the staff room of a hotel in Marine Parade and stole an employee's Bluetooth speaker and perfume. Around one hour later, Photo: Sussex Police
34. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in January 2024
A ‘dangerous’ man, who subjected his victim to a ‘vicious, prolonged assault’ in Sussex, has been jailed for 15 years. Christopher Holland, 34, of Mill Lane, Littlehampton, was arrested after a police manhunt in November 2022. "Police were called to a property in Brighton in the early hours of Saturday, November 26, after neighbours reported a woman screaming for help,” a police spokesperson said. "Officers forced their way into the property as Holland jumped from a second storey window and fled the scene. His victim – a woman in her 40s - had suffered significant injuries after what she described as a vicious, prolonged assault over more than 90 minutes, in which she feared she would be killed." Police said the woman was safeguarded after the ‘vicious’ and ‘horrific’ attack, and a manhunt was launched to locate Holland, who was arrested within 24 hours. Police said he was charged with intentional strangulation, ABH and coercive/controlling behaviour and remanded in custody on November 28, 2022. At Hove Crown Court on February 9, Holland pleaded guilty to all three offences, police said. While awaiting sentencing, police said he was also charged with a violent sexual assault from August, 2022. “He was subsequently charged with sexual assault by penetration, of which he was found guilty by a jury at Lewes Crown Court on November 8,” the spokesperson added. "At the same court on Friday (January 5), Holland was sentenced to 15 years in prison and given an indefinite restraining order against his victim.” Photo: Sussex Police
35. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in January 2024
A man has been jailed for numerous vehicle offences in West Sussex. On November 7 at around 12am, police were alerted to a man trying doors in Arden Road, Crawley. It was then reported later that morning that the suspect had stolen around £30 in cash. Officers were called to another vehicle-related incident on December 26 at around 10.30pm in Sandeman Way, Horsham. A man was seen trying a car but the victim – a 49-year-old man from Horsham – detained him until police arrived. Ashley Ascoli, 30, of Brookers Road, Billingshurst was arrested. Ascoli was charged with theft from a motor vehicle and vehicle inference. He was also charged with possession of crack cocaine and assault, following an incident on October 14 where he attacked a woman. He pleaded guilty to all four offences when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on December 28 and was sentenced to 49 weeks’ imprisonment. Photo: Sussex Police
36. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in January 2024
A man has been jailed for more than seven years following a burglary near Haywards Heath. On November 2, 2021 at around 2.50pm, police were called to reports of a burglary on Brook Street, Cuckfield. A man broke in and was caught rummaging through a wardrobe by the owner. Following an altercation, where the victim – a 44-year-old man – suffered minor injuries, the suspect fled the property with jewellery worth thousands of pounds. On January 18, 2022, he was arrested in connection with the incident and identified as Justin Collins, 46, of no fixed address. He was charged with burglary with violence and appeared before Lewes Crown Court on December 14, 2023, where he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years and six months’ imprisonment. Photo: Sussex Police