These are some of the most serious, high-profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the sixth month of 2023.
All information comes directly from Sussex Police.
13. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in June 2023
Members of an organised crime gang responsible for a series of violent incidents in East Sussex have been jailed. Four men and one boy were sentenced following a police investigation into the supply of drugs and a series of arsons and criminal damage in Rye, Hastings, and Bexhill. Police initially became aware of drug-related activity in the autumn of 2019, leading officers to execute a warrant at the home address of 24-year-old Charlie Banks in November of that year. A quantity of cannabis and cash was found, as well as messages consistent with the supply of cocaine and cannabis on Banks’s mobile phone. In August 2020, officers had cause to stop a vehicle in Rye. Banks was in the passenger seat and found in possession of cocaine. A further telephone seized from him found messaging consistent with the supply of cocaine, of amounts up to 500 grams at a time, and cannabis. While this investigation was ongoing, a series of incidents of arson and criminal damage were reported during the summer of 2022. The investigations into these incidents led police to believe they were all related to the supply of drugs, and that the offending was a way for dealers to enforce the payment of drug debts or otherwise cause fear to the individuals they targeted. From their investigations and speaking to the victims of the arson attacks, police found multiple links back to Charlie Banks. Banks was found to be in contact with the victims prior to the attacks, demanding money or attempting to sell them drugs. All four men and the 17-year-old boy were arrested, charged with multiple offences, and remanded in custody. They entered guilty pleas and were sentenced on Thursday (May 25) as follows: Banks, of Peacocke Way, Rye, was convicted of conspiracy to commit arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered; conspiracy to supply Class A controlled drugs; being concerned in the supply of cocaine; conspiracy to supply Class B controlled drugs; and being concerned in the supply of cannabis. He was sentenced to eight years Photo: Sussex Police
14. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in June 2023
Members of an organised crime gang responsible for a series of violent incidents in East Sussex have been jailed. Four men and one boy were sentenced following a police investigation into the supply of drugs and a series of arsons and criminal damage in Rye, Hastings, and Bexhill. While this investigation was ongoing, a series of incidents of arson and criminal damage were reported during the summer of 2022. The investigations into these incidents led police to believe they were all related to the supply of drugs, and that the offending was a way for dealers to enforce the payment of drug debts or otherwise cause fear to the individuals they targeted. A number of suspects were identified through police enquiries. Haydyn Russell, 18, was linked after his DNA was found on a hammer left behind at the Hastings restaurant, while forensic examination of the smoke grenades used to target the St Leonards shop identified a 17-year-old suspect. The 17-year-old boy was also found in possession of a photograph linked to the arson on 8 July. He admitted being present, having been taken to the scene in a vehicle. All four men and the 17-year-old boy were arrested, charged with multiple offences, and remanded in custody. They entered guilty pleas and were sentenced on May 25 as follows: Russell, of Brittany Road, St Leonards, was convicted of conspiracy to commit arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered; conspiracy to commit criminal damage; conspiracy to supply Class A drugs; conspiracy to supply Class B drugs; conspiracy to supply Class C drugs; and possession of cannabis. He was sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment. The 17-year-old boy from Buckinghamshire, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of conspiracy to commit arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered; conspiracy to commit criminal damage; and possession of cannabis. He was given a 36-month Youth Rehabilitation Order to include 160 hours of unpaid work, a six-month curfew, and an order not to enter Photo: Sussex Police
15. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in June 2023
Members of an organised crime gang responsible for a series of violent incidents in East Sussex have been jailed. Four men and one boy were sentenced following a police investigation into the supply of drugs and a series of arsons and criminal damage in Rye, Hastings, and Bexhill. While this investigation was ongoing, a series of incidents of arson and criminal damage were reported during the summer of 2022. The investigations into these incidents led police to believe they were all related to the supply of drugs, and that the offending was a way for dealers to enforce the payment of drug debts or otherwise cause fear to the individuals they targeted. Police enquiries identified the vehicle as belonging to 19-year-old Bradley Froud, and his car was also found to be present in the vicinity of the arsons on July 12 and July 13. Froud was stopped by police while driving in St Leonards and failed a roadside drugs wipe for cocaine and cannabis. He was arrested for those offences and for his suspected involvement in the arsons. A search of his car found bottles of white spirit and lighter fluid, while analysis of his mobile phone also found videos of vehicles being set on fire and windows being smashed, including footage of the attack on the shop in St Leonards on June 27. Froud’s phone also showed messages between him and 19-year-old James McKenna relating to the supply of drugs. All four men and the 17-year-old boy were arrested, charged with multiple offences, and remanded in custody. They entered guilty pleas and were sentenced on May 25 as follows: Froud, of Frewyn Close, St Leonards, was convicted of conspiracy to commit arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered; conspiracy to commit criminal damage; conspiracy to supply Class A drugs; conspiracy to supply Class B drugs; conspiracy to supply Class C drugs; and conspiracy to commit domestic burglary. He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. Photo: Sussex Police
16. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in June 2023
Members of an organised crime gang responsible for a series of violent incidents in East Sussex have been jailed. Four men and one boy were sentenced following a police investigation into the supply of drugs and a series of arsons and criminal damage in Rye, Hastings, and Bexhill. While this investigation was ongoing, a series of incidents of arson and criminal damage were reported during the summer of 2022. The investigations into these incidents led police to believe they were all related to the supply of drugs, and that the offending was a way for dealers to enforce the payment of drug debts or otherwise cause fear to the individuals they targeted. In August 2022, a search warrant was conducted at James McKenna’s address and a large quantity of Class A, B and C drugs were found and seized, including 19 grams of Methamphetamine and 30.2 grams of cocaine. McKenna’s phone also contained messaging relating to the sale of cocaine, cannabis, LSD, MDMA and Ketamine, and showed McKenna recruiting others to commit criminal damage for which he was offering a fee. All four men and the 17-year-old boy were arrested, charged with multiple offences, and remanded in custody. They entered guilty pleas and were sentenced on May 25 as follows: McKenna, of Peartree Lane, Bexhill, was convicted of conspiracy to commit criminal damage; conspiracy to supply Class A drugs; conspiracy to commit domestic burglary; possession of cannabis; and possession of criminal property. He was sentenced to five years and two months’ imprisonment. Photo: Sussex Police