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 PoliceThese 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
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

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

By Matt Pole
Published 2nd Apr 2022, 14:43 GMT
Updated 2nd Apr 2022, 14:46 GMT

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Sussex’s judges, juries and magistrates were busy in March.

These are some of the most serious, high profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the second month of 2022.

All information comes directly from Sussex Police.

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Some of the criminals locked up in Sussex in February. Pictures courtesy of Sussex Police. Pictures courtesy of Sussex Police

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Some of the criminals locked up in Sussex in February. Pictures courtesy of Sussex Police. Pictures courtesy of Sussex Police

Jack Stockdale, now 28, of Paradise Walk in Bexhill, was sentenced to six years in prison at Lewes Crown Court on March 31 after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the limits of alcohol and drugs and while uninsured and unlicensed. Stockdale was identified as the driver of a black Yamaha motorcycle that collided with a lamppost on the A269 Ninfield Road, Bexhill, at around 10.30pm on Wednesday, March 12, 2020. His pillion passenger – 27-year-old Joel Vinten from Bexhill – was airlifted to hospital but died on March 16. Witnesses reported seeing the motorbike being driven at excess speed into a 30mph bend, causing it to lose control and leave the road.

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Jack Stockdale, now 28, of Paradise Walk in Bexhill, was sentenced to six years in prison at Lewes Crown Court on March 31 after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the limits of alcohol and drugs and while uninsured and unlicensed. Stockdale was identified as the driver of a black Yamaha motorcycle that collided with a lamppost on the A269 Ninfield Road, Bexhill, at around 10.30pm on Wednesday, March 12, 2020. His pillion passenger – 27-year-old Joel Vinten from Bexhill – was airlifted to hospital but died on March 16. Witnesses reported seeing the motorbike being driven at excess speed into a 30mph bend, causing it to lose control and leave the road. Photo: Sussex Police

Hazret Avdyli, (left) 26, of Eltham Green Road, London SE9, was arrested on the balcony of a flat he had been visiting in Littlehampton trying to evade officers last October with the 'deal line' phone of what was known as the 'Joey' line, empty of a Sim card, found at his feet. Avdyli pleaded guilty in February and on March 23 was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court to four years imprisonment for being concerned in the supply of both crack cocaine and heroin in the Littlehampton area from London last year. Abdullah Omar, (right), 33, of Mountfield Road, London E15, was found guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court on March 24 of being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine in the Bognor area. He was sentenced to eight years. He had played a significant role in the running of the 'Henry' drugs line into the area from London.

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Hazret Avdyli, (left) 26, of Eltham Green Road, London SE9, was arrested on the balcony of a flat he had been visiting in Littlehampton trying to evade officers last October with the 'deal line' phone of what was known as the 'Joey' line, empty of a Sim card, found at his feet. Avdyli pleaded guilty in February and on March 23 was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court to four years imprisonment for being concerned in the supply of both crack cocaine and heroin in the Littlehampton area from London last year. Abdullah Omar, (right), 33, of Mountfield Road, London E15, was found guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court on March 24 of being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine in the Bognor area. He was sentenced to eight years. He had played a significant role in the running of the 'Henry' drugs line into the area from London. Photo: Sussex Police

In January 2019, officers on plain-clothed patrols in Hastings town centre witnessed a man and two women acting suspiciously in Cornwallis Gardens. Believing a drug deal had taken place, officers observed the man as he returned to his car. He was detained after parking up elsewhere in the town, and taken to Hastings Police Station. The key to the car was found discarded nearby alongside a package containing 69 wraps of crack cocaine and 44 wraps of heroin. DNA found on the discarded drugs wraps matched that of the man arrested - later known to be Alex Simon, 25, of Frederick Street, Swansea. He was charged with possession with intent to supply a Class A drug (heroin) and possession with intent to supply a Class A drug (crack cocaine). Simon had also been arrested in connection with the discovery of a cannabis factory at a property in Milward Road, Hastings, in August 2019. Officers had been at the address on an unrelated matter when they noticed a smell of cannabis coming from the letterbox. Inside, they foun

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In January 2019, officers on plain-clothed patrols in Hastings town centre witnessed a man and two women acting suspiciously in Cornwallis Gardens. Believing a drug deal had taken place, officers observed the man as he returned to his car. He was detained after parking up elsewhere in the town, and taken to Hastings Police Station. The key to the car was found discarded nearby alongside a package containing 69 wraps of crack cocaine and 44 wraps of heroin. DNA found on the discarded drugs wraps matched that of the man arrested - later known to be Alex Simon, 25, of Frederick Street, Swansea. He was charged with possession with intent to supply a Class A drug (heroin) and possession with intent to supply a Class A drug (crack cocaine). Simon had also been arrested in connection with the discovery of a cannabis factory at a property in Milward Road, Hastings, in August 2019. Officers had been at the address on an unrelated matter when they noticed a smell of cannabis coming from the letterbox. Inside, they foun Photo: Sussex Police

Albert Frani, 27, of Rushlake Road in Brighton, was arrested and charged with being concerned in the production of a Class B drug (cannabis). At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on March 14, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison. Officers from Brighton and Hove’s Neighbourhood Policing Team investigated the Rushlake Road area following concerns of suspected drug dealing raised by members of the public. Information gathered was passed on to Brighton and Hove’s Tactical Enforcement Unit, who conducted house to house enquiries on March 13. As one resident came to his front door, officers could hear the sound of fans whirring in the background and a significant smell of cannabis coming from the property. A thermal imaging camera used by a PCSO also detected an unusual amount of heat coming from inside. The occupant was detained while a search was carried out, which found four rooms filled with cannabis cultivation equipment and signs that dozens of plants had recently been harvested. Two large bags

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Albert Frani, 27, of Rushlake Road in Brighton, was arrested and charged with being concerned in the production of a Class B drug (cannabis). At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on March 14, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison. Officers from Brighton and Hove’s Neighbourhood Policing Team investigated the Rushlake Road area following concerns of suspected drug dealing raised by members of the public. Information gathered was passed on to Brighton and Hove’s Tactical Enforcement Unit, who conducted house to house enquiries on March 13. As one resident came to his front door, officers could hear the sound of fans whirring in the background and a significant smell of cannabis coming from the property. A thermal imaging camera used by a PCSO also detected an unusual amount of heat coming from inside. The occupant was detained while a search was carried out, which found four rooms filled with cannabis cultivation equipment and signs that dozens of plants had recently been harvested. Two large bags Photo: Sussex Police

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.

13. 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

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.

14. 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

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.

15. 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

Besze, Willard and Hallworth(pictured) were arrested and charged with false imprisonment and robbery. They all admitted the offences in their police interviews, but claimed they did not use weapons in the attack. The case went for a Newton hearing and their claim was disproved. At Lewes Crown Court on February 15, they were each sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment in a young offender institution. Investigating officer Rose Horan said: "These youths took it upon themselves to act as vigilantes in setting up a honey trap. The three defendants, who were of previous good character with bright futures ahead of them, now find themselves in prison for what is probably the biggest mistake they will ever make. The whole plot was ill conceived from the start. The victim was, and remains, absolutely traumatised by this incident and has shown great patience and maturity throughout the investigation.”

16. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in March 2023

Besze, Willard and Hallworth(pictured) were arrested and charged with false imprisonment and robbery. They all admitted the offences in their police interviews, but claimed they did not use weapons in the attack. The case went for a Newton hearing and their claim was disproved. At Lewes Crown Court on February 15, they were each sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment in a young offender institution. Investigating officer Rose Horan said: "These youths took it upon themselves to act as vigilantes in setting up a honey trap. The three defendants, who were of previous good character with bright futures ahead of them, now find themselves in prison for what is probably the biggest mistake they will ever make. The whole plot was ill conceived from the start. The victim was, and remains, absolutely traumatised by this incident and has shown great patience and maturity throughout the investigation.” Photo: Sussex Police

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