These are some of the most serious, high-profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the penultimate month of 2023.
All information comes directly from Sussex Police.
9. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in November 2023
A man who stabbed a vulnerable drug user has been jailed for three-and-a-half years. Jordan McFarlane also received a Serious Violence Reduction Order (SVRO) following the incident, which happened in Tennyson Road, Worthing, on the evening of 26 July. Police and paramedics responded to the scene, where the 32-year-old victim was discovered with two stab wounds. He was taken to hospital, where it was confirmed he sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries. He had been to meet McFarlane to buy drugs from him. But without warning, the 20-year-old defendant violently attacked him. McFarlane, of Chadwell Heath, Barking, was arrested near his home address two days later. He was searched and found to be in possession of a knife in his waistband. Mobile phone examinations also revealed McFarlane had regularly been supplying Class A drugs to the victim. He was subsequently arrested and charged with supplying crack cocaine and diamorphine, two counts of possession of a knife in public and causing grievous bodily harm. He pleaded guilty to all offences and was sentenced to a total of 42 months’ imprisonment at Lewes Crown Court on 6 November. A SVRO was also authorised for 24 months from the date of his release from prison, which gives police the power to search him in public to ensure he is not in possession of an offensive weapon. Photo: Sussex Police
10. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in November 2023
A Hove man who stalked an ex-partner, threatened to publish intimate pictures of her and concocted elaborate lies to control her behaviour has been jailed. Peter Moran, 57, a sports instructor of Downland Drive in Hove, subjected his victim – a woman in her 50s - to mind games while they were together, disappearing for weeks at a time with no contact. He would explain his absences by claiming to be involved in an MMA fight to the death, or to be carrying out top secret work for MI6. In 2019, he coerced her into moving into his flat, before turning the property into a gym and forcing them both to sleep on a mattress on the floor. After his victim ended the relationship at the end of 2019, Moran bombarded her with messages, emails and social media contact through a variety of fake accounts. He would turn up unannounced at her work and home, banging on the windows and behaving aggressively. On 31 January, 2020, she visited his home in the hope a face to face encounter would end the harassment campaign. Moran’s open computer screen was covered with pictures of her, and he repeated previous threats to publish ‘hundreds’ of intimate photographs of her online. The following day, the police were called to reports of Moran sitting outside his victim’s house. He was arrested after being pulled over nearby and found with a key to her house. A suspicious passport was also found at his property. Moran was subsequently charged with stalking involving serious alarm/distress, possession of a Class B drug and possession of a false identity document. On 1 March, 2023, Moran was found guilty of stalking and possession of a Class B drug, and not guilty of possessing a false identity document. At Hove Crown Court on 24 September, he was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison, and given an indefinite restraining order. In a victim impact statement read out in court, Moran’s victim explained the long-term impacts of his offending, leaving her paranoid, with trust issues and leading a ‘very solitary Photo: Sussex Police
11. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in November 2023
Two men who deliberately started fires across Sussex causing more than £1million in damage have been sentenced. Joshua Brinkley, 20, of Southfield, Polegate (pictured), and Connor Luck, 21, of School Lane, Blackboys, set abandoned buildings, agricultural barns, farmland and haybales alight, causing extensive damage and disruption. The estimated value of the total damage they caused was £1,117,825. Lewes Crown Court on Monday 30 October heard that at 10.27pm on Friday 26 June 2021, police were called by West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service to a large fire at a derelict property in Broadwater Lane, Horsham. On Thursday 8 July 2021, at 3.39am, police were alerted by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service to a large fire at a derelict property in Wivelsfield Green where eight fire engines were in attendance. At 7.23am on Sunday 29 August 2021, police were contacted by East Sussex Fire and Rescue to a large deliberate fire at two outbuildings in Lower Willingdon that contained cylinders and farm machinery. On Tuesday 2 November 2021, at 2.54am, police assisted East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service with a large fire in a barn on farmland off the A26 at Beddingham. At 4.32am on Thursday 4 November 2021, police were called to assist East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service with road closures following a hay bale fire at a vineyard in Rathfinny, Alfriston. On Saturday 6 November 2021, at 10.49pm, police attended two large barns on fire in Tarring Neville with smoke going into the A26. At 4.04am on Sunday 7 November, police were contacted by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service to a report of a silver Vauxhall Corsa being on fire in Lewes Road, Ringmer. And at 5.28am on the same day, police assisted the fire service with a road closure following a large fire involving haybales within a field in Litlington Road, Seaford. Investigations into each of the fires were carried out by officers and the causes were confirmed as arson. Following enquiries, Brinkley was arrested and charged with seven counts of arson and Luck was Photo: Sussex Police
12. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in November 2023
Four men who violently attacked a teenager after he refused to continue working at their Indian takeaway without pay have been convicted in court. The victim, aged 18 at the time, was recruited at the Balti Hut in Queens Road, Hastings, after he entered the UK as an unaccompanied asylum-seeker from Sudan. Due to the poor working conditions and lack of pay, he threatened to leave and report his employers to the Government. In response to this, he was subjected to an unprovoked and prolonged attack which resulted in a fractured forearm, along with multiple cuts and bruises. The victim had been chased from the takeaway through the town centre towards Hastings railway station by Mominur Rahman (pictured), who repeatedly hit him with a metal bar. Once at the railway station, he was further assaulted by both Mominur Rahman and his brother Shahnur Rahman. Together, they repeatedly hit, kicked, and stamped on the victim – including on his head – while he lay defenceless on the floor. A short time later, a third brother Ridwanur Rahman arrived and punched the victim to the head while being held down by Shahnur Rahman. The brothers’ father Siddiqur Rahman then travelled to join them at the station and he also repeatedly stamped on the teenager’s head. The attack only stopped after railway staff intervened and took the man to safety, before he was transported to hospital. The incident started shortly before midnight on 5 January, 2022. All four suspects, who all reside in St Leonards, were subsequently arrested and charged. The case went to trial at Lewes Crown Court and all four were found guilty, and sentenced on Wednesday 8 November as follows: Mominur Rahman, 23, was sentenced to a total of 53 months’ imprisonment for attempted GBH with intent and possession of an offensive weapon. He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation, £3,500 costs and a £190 victim surcharge. Photo: Sussex Police