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.
21. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in November 2023
A man has been sentenced for multiple incidents of rape on a vulnerable child in Sussex. Niall O’Sullivan groomed the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, by sending messages with her on a mobile phone app. Police said that the 28-year-old travelled from Birmingham to Brighton in his car in order to meet her. He was interrupted by police officers who found him committing the offence in a car park in Brighton on May 7, police said. At Lewes Crown Court on November 24, O’Sullivan admitted and was sentenced for seven counts of rape. He was jailed for a total of nine years and four months. He will not be automatically released half way through his sentence, but must instead serve two thirds of the sentence before he can be considered for parole. The court also added an extra year to serve on licence following his time in prison. O’Sullivan was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely, to restrict his access to children, and will also be a registered sex offender for life. The court was told how O’Sullivan, formerly a motor mechanic of an address in Birmingham, found the victim on the chat app in November 2022 and sent her messages. Police said that he met her for the first time in April this year, and committed six rapes in his car, often driving to car parks in order to do so. The victim revealed how O’Sullivan became angry with her when she tried to speak with or go out with other friends, police said. Police said that she received support from specially-trained officers and the Brighton Safeguarding Investigation Unit (SIU) led the inquiry into O’Sullivan. Photo: Sussex Police
22. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in November 2023
A fast food restaurant worker who raped a woman in East Sussex has been jailed. Sussex Police have said that Bogdan Cioropa, 28, of Staplefield Drive in Brighton, raped his victim at a property in Brighton on Friday, April 9, 2021. Police said that the victim reported the offence to police and Cioropa was arrested the following day on suspicion of rape. The woman was given support by specialist officers while an investigation was carried out, police have said. Cioropa was subsequently charged with rape, attempted oral rape and sexual assault, but left the country before his trial was due to start. Proceedings continued in his absence and a jury unanimously found him guilty of all three counts at Hove Crown Court on Thursday, 14 September. At Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday (22 November), Cioropa was sentenced in his absence to nine years in prison. He was also given a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a restraining order of 15 years and will be a registered sex offender for life. After extensive attempts to locate Cioropa in Europe, a warrant is with the Crown Prosecution Service for his arrest and extradition. Stringent measures are in place to ensure he will be apprehended should he attempt to re-enter the UK. Photo: Sussex Police