Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in January
By Matt Pole
Published 1st Feb 2023, 12:53 BST
Updated 1st Feb 2023, 12:53 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 2023.
All information comes directly from Sussex Police.
13. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in January
A builder who murdered two women, one of whose bodies has never been found, has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Mark Brown, 41, of Squirrel Close, St Leonards, was convicted at Hove Crown Court on December 1, 2022 of killing Alex Morgan, 34, and Leah Ware, 32. He was sentenced to life imprisonment today on Friday, January 13 with a minimum of 49 years, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. Alex’s remains were discovered by police at a building site where Brown worked, but no trace has ever been found of Leah’s body. The CPS said Brown met both women through the internet and was in a relationship with Leah before her disappearance. Brown owned a remote property where both women were last seen alive, with CCTV footage and mobile data placing them at and around the location. After Brown was arrested on suspicion of the murder of Alex in November 2021, police searched the building site where he worked and found her remains alongside some of her personal belongings, the CPS added. Further searches of his work van led Kent Police to find prescription medicine belonging to Leah, but after an extensive investigation by Sussex Police, there was no evidence to suggest she was alive. Brown attempted to conceal Leah’s murder by continuing to collect her medication and withdraw cash from her accounts, the CPS said. The CPS said Brown pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Alex, but continued to deny any involvement in Leah’s disappearance, alternating between claims she had passed away or that she was an inpatient at various psychiatric hospitals. However, the overwhelming evidence in the case saw a jury at Hove Crown Court convict him of both murders, the CPS added. Photo: Sussex Police
14. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in January
A father and son who used weapons to violently assault a woman in Crawley have been convicted and jailed for causing grievous bodily harm, Sussex Police has reported. Police said Richard Chapman Senior and Richard Chapman Junior were involved in an altercation with a man at a petrol station in Balcombe Road in the town and then pursued a vehicle back to an address in the Three Bridges area. There, accompanied by a third unidentified man, they assaulted a woman outside her property with weapons including an axe, Sussex Police added. Police said Chapman Senior was arrested within days, and was convicted in June 2022, but Chapman Junior was at large until he was arrested by officers from the Specialist Enforcement Unit. Both men were charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon in public, and have now both been jailed, Sussex Police added. DC Jenny Balmont, from Crawley CID, said the incident happened at about 10.30am on July 2, 2021. Police said Chapman Senior, 58, unemployed, of Carey’s Wood, Smallfield, Surrey, was arrested on July 5, 2021, and was then remanded in custody. He admitted the charges, and was imprisoned for eight years after appearing at Lewes Crown Court on June 29, 2022, Sussex Police added. Police said the court also imposed an extended sentence, which means Chapman Senior will also have to serve an additional four years on licence after his release from prison. He must serve at least two thirds of his sentence before he can be considered for release on parole, Sussex Police added. Police said Chapman Junior, 31, unemployed, also of Carey’s Wood, was at large until the SEU made the arrest on August 23 last year. He also admitted the charges, and was imprisoned for four-and-a-half years when he appeared before Lewes Crown Court on December 12, 2022, Sussex Police added. Police said the courts imposed restraining orders on both men not to contact the victim or another member of her family for ten years. Photo: Sussex Police
15. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in January
A ‘significant supplier of cocaine in the Eastbourne area’ has been handed a prison sentence, police have said. Officers said Anthony Kogo, 29, of Seaside Road, appeared before Lewes Crown Court on December 15, 2022, after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine on October 27 last year. He was sentenced to 39 months imprisonment, according to police. Acting on intelligence, police said they carried out a warrant and arrested Kogo at his address on May 4, 2022. He was found in possession of two mobile phones and following examination, evidence showed he was a significant supplier of cocaine in the Eastbourne area. As such he was further arrested on August 9 and a phone discovered on his bedside table was examined and found to have sent bulk messages advertising the sale of cocaine. He was charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine between November 27, 2021 and May 4, 2022 and between May 5, 2022 and August 9, 2022. Kogo’s sentencing is another example of the partnership work being undertaken by the Project ADDER team of Sussex Police and Op Orochi from the Metropolitan Police. Project ADDER (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery) was launched by the Home Office at the start of 2021 with the aim of reducing drug-related crime and protecting people from harm. In the year since its launch, more than 600 Organised Crime Groups have been disrupted nationally, with almost 10,500 arrests and £3.5m in cash seized across England and Wales. More than 13,000 people have also been supported in drug treatment interventions delivered by outreach workers. County Lines dealing is the sale of drugs from large urban areas, such as London, into smaller towns such as Eastbourne. Dealers and customers are linked by mobile phone numbers, through which deals are conducted. Photo: Sussex Police