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 BST
Updated 2nd Apr 2022, 14:46 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

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.

READ THIS: Plans unveiled to build holiday lodges on Horsham woodland site.

Premier Bond holder from West Sussex wins £1million in April prize draw.

No more selling ice cream for Eastbourne actress after break-out role.

For the latest breaking news where you live in Sussex, follow us on Twitter @Sussex_World and like us on Facebook @SussexWorldUK.

READ THIS: Plans unveiled to build holiday lodges on Horsham woodland site.

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

Previous
4 / 5
Next Page