These are some of the most serious, high-profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the tenth month of 2023.
All information comes directly from Sussex Police.
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A ‘prolific shoplifter’ has been jailed for 12 offences across West Sussex, police have confirmed. Andrew Lewis, 39, of no fixed address, has been jailed for 20 months after committing ten shoplifting incidents and two burglaries, police said. Sussex Police reported that the incidents spanned from Tuesday, August 8 to Tuesday, September 5. A spokesperson for the force said: “Lewis is responsible for thousands of pounds worth of stock and items being stolen across West Sussex, with incidents taking place in Chichester, Bognor Regis and Worthing. The businesses which were hit by Lewis were Sports Direct, Marks & Spencer, Cotswold Outdoor and Gold Arts in Chichester; B&M, Reeves & Sons Jewellers, Sports Direct, Premier and Iceland in Bognor; L Guess Jewellers in Littlehampton; and GA Jewellers in Worthing. Lewis appeared before Lewes Crown Court on Monday, October 16, where he was sentenced. He was also handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for five years.” Photo: Sussex Police
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A county lines drug dealer responsible for supplying heroin and crack cocaine in Eastbourne has been jailed. Junior Grah, 23, admitted being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, possession of crack cocaine, and possession of a bladed article, said police. At Lewes Crown Court on October 12, he was sentenced to a total of five years and seven months in prison. Grah was arrested in Mitcham in September 2022 following a joint investigation by Sussex Police and Metropolitan Police into the ‘Avon’ county drugs line. A county line is a single mobile phone number used to sell and distribute drugs from large urban areas to smaller towns. In this case, the ‘Avon’ line was found to be supplying crack cocaine and heroin to vulnerable people in the Eastbourne area. When Grah was arrested, he was found in possession of two phones and two SIM cards – one of which held the number of the ‘Avon’ drugs line, police said. Messages downloaded from the devices were consistent with the supply of Class A drugs, police added. Grah, of Fernlea Road, Mitcham, pleaded guilty to the four offences on December 15, 2022 and was remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing. Photo: Sussex Police
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A scouts leader in Sussex, who abused a young girl in his care, has been jailed for five years – with an additional year on licence. Sussex Police said former maintenance engineer Daniel Williams, 51, ‘preyed on a young girl in his care’ as a scouts leader in Sussex. “At Lewes Crown Court on October 9, he appeared for sentencing after admitting assaulting the child by penetration at an earlier hearing,” a police spokesperson added. Williams – formerly of an address in Hassocks – was a scout leader for more than ten years and ‘committed the offence while acting in this role’, police said. The spokesperson added: “He also admitted three counts of possessing indecent images of children. The court sentenced Williams to a term of five years in prison and an additional year on licence to make a six year sentence in total. It means Williams will not be automatically released half way through his sentence.” Williams was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his access to children, and will be a registered sex offender for life. Photo: Sussex Police
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A man has been jailed for shoplifting and threatening a member of staff with a knife in Chichester. Robert Sheppard, 41, of no fixed address, has been sentenced to a total of 20 months in prison following an incident at Sports Direct in the city-centre on Monday, September 4, police said. Sussex Police said he stole two pairs of joggers worth £159 each and proceeded to threaten staff with a knife. Police acted swiftly and, with thanks to a member of the public, arrested him just a few minutes later, despite Sheppard trying to get away. A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: “Sheppard pleaded guilty to possession of a knife, threatening with a knife, and theft from a shop, and appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday, October 4 for sentencing. He was also ordered to pay a £187 fine and a given a 24-month Serious Violence Reduction Order (SVRO), the first of its kind in West Sussex. Police now have the right to search Sheppard in a public place to check he isn’t carrying an offensive weapon, under the order that runs for two years.” Photo: Sussex Police