These are some of the most serious, high-profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the third month of 2023.
All information comes directly from Sussex Police.
13. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in March 2023
A man has been jailed after he was found guilty of two counts of rape and other offences against a woman in West Sussex, Sussex Police have said. Arthur Norris, known to most as Alfy Norris, sought to isolate the victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, and control her, police said. Sussex Police said that he claimed that the victim’s family and friends were “toxic” for her. Police were alerted after Norris attended her address and set fire to her car. She then disclosed how she had been raped and controlled by Norris, who forced himself upon her. Norris, 35, formerly of Montalan Crescent, Selsey, stood trial at Portsmouth Crown Court in December, charged with two counts of rape, arson, and coercive control. The jury reached unanimous guilty verdicts on all four counts against him. The court heard how the victim revealed the extent of the sexual offences and abuse after he had attended her address and torched her vehicle in July 22. Officers swiftly arrested Norris, and he was remanded in custody to await trial. In court on Monday, March 6, Norris was sentenced to seven years and eight months in custody. Photo: Sussex Police
14. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in March 2023
A man found guilty of the rape of two women has been jailed for 18 years. Andrew Mellis, 58, of Tarner Road, Brighton, appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Monday, March 6 for sentencing having been convicted by a unanimous verdict in July last year of four counts of rape. The first three offences had been disclosed following an investigation into an assault. During the investigation another woman came forward to report a further offence. The two women had victim impact statements read out to the court detailing the impact and long-term effects that Mellis's crimes had had upon them over many years. HHJ Christine Laing said that the crimes he had inflicted on his victims were 'brutal' and that he should feel shame at the way he had abused them. She deemed him 'a dangerous man' and in sentencing him to 14 years and ordered a further four years on licence in the light of the threat that he posed. He will also be placed on the sex offenders register for life. Photo: Sussex Police
15. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in March 2023
Three men from Hove who robbed and assaulted a teenager in a honey trap case have been jailed for a total of 81 months. Balint Besze, 20, of New Church Road (pictured); Theo Hallworth, 19, of Marine Avenue; and Reuben Willard, 19, of Hangleton Road; lured their victim to a derelict building where they carried out a sustained attack and stole his personal belongings. Following the incident, the victim, without money or shoes, was able to catch a bus to a friend’s house and report it to police. The motive for the incident stemmed from a spurious allegation against the victim made by a woman. Private messages on the victim’s Instagram account supported the case that this allegation was completely false. The woman relayed this false allegation to her friend Balint Besze. Photo: Sussex Police
16. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in March 2023
Besze and his two companions, Hallworth (pictured) and Willard, hatched a plot to exact revenge on the victim. They admitted their intention to force a confession, instead of establishing if there was any truth to the allegation or reporting it to police. They formed a vigilante group and one of their female friends persuaded the victim to meet her at a disused car workshop in Newtown Road, Hove, on the afternoon of March 26, 2021. This woman, now aged 19, spent a week engaging with the victim over social media and successfully lured him to the derelict building. Once inside, the young man was set upon by the three defendants, who wore boiler suits and masks and used metal sticks in their attack. The victim sustained bruising to his back, shoulder, wrist and forearm, and was forced to hand over his phone, wallet, passport, rucksack and even his shoes. The woman was arrested and charged in connection with the incident, however she was found not fit to plead due to her mental capacity. She was sectioned and reporting restrictions were imposed, meaning she cannot be identified. Photo: Sussex Police