Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in October 2026

By Matt Pole

Published 1st Nov 2026, 10:03 GMT

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

These are some of the most serious, high profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the tenth month of 2026.

All information comes directly from Sussex Police.

1. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in October 2026

These are some of the most serious, high profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in Sussex in October 2026 Photo: Sussex Police

A prolific burglar, who was challenged by a woman when he burgled her home in Hove, has been jailed for 43 months. An area search and enquiries led to Jason Knight (pictured), 37, of Chailey Road, Brighton, and two others, being arrested following the burglary in Waterloo Street, Hove, on April 28. A number of the victim’s belongings had been stolen, including her bank card which went on to be used in nearby shops. Knight was charged with burglary and fraud by false representation and he was remanded in custody. Victoria Hayes-Sparkes, 32, of Western Road, Brighton, and Stefan Gilmore, 34, of no fixed address, were charged with assisting an offender. All three appeared before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on April 29. Knight appeared before Lewes Crown Court on May 26 and he pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud. Victoria Hayes-Sparkes and Stefan Gilmore failed to attend court and warrants have been issued for their arrest. On October 27, in the same court, Knight further pleaded guilty to burglary. He was sentenced to 37 months in prison for the burglary and a further six months for breaching a suspended sentence in relation to an assault charge which he was convicted of in January 2025.

2. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in October 2026

A prolific burglar, who was challenged by a woman when he burgled her home in Hove, has been jailed for 43 months. An area search and enquiries led to Jason Knight (pictured), 37, of Chailey Road, Brighton, and two others, being arrested following the burglary in Waterloo Street, Hove, on April 28. A number of the victim’s belongings had been stolen, including her bank card which went on to be used in nearby shops. Knight was charged with burglary and fraud by false representation and he was remanded in custody. Victoria Hayes-Sparkes, 32, of Western Road, Brighton, and Stefan Gilmore, 34, of no fixed address, were charged with assisting an offender. All three appeared before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on April 29. Knight appeared before Lewes Crown Court on May 26 and he pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud. Victoria Hayes-Sparkes and Stefan Gilmore failed to attend court and warrants have been issued for their arrest. On October 27, in the same court, Knight further pleaded guilty to burglary. He was sentenced to 37 months in prison for the burglary and a further six months for breaching a suspended sentence in relation to an assault charge which he was convicted of in January 2025. Photo: Sussex Police

A man has been sentenced to more than four years in prison after the victim alerted a bus driver to his domestic abuse offending. At Brighton Crown Court on October 6, James Sinden, 43, was jailed for four years for assault by penetration and one year for false imprisonment to run concurrently. Sinden, of no fixed address, was also sentenced to an additional month in prison for a previous suspended sentence for attempted burglary, and two months for assault from a community order which was breached. A seven-year restraining order was also put in place. The circumstances around his arrest are that on November 9, 2025, Sinden’s distressed victim boarded a bus in Hove with the accused and whispered to the driver that she was experiencing domestic abuse. The driver removed Sinden from the bus, drove further along the route to ensure Sinden was separated from the victim, and called police.

3. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in October 2026

A man has been sentenced to more than four years in prison after the victim alerted a bus driver to his domestic abuse offending. At Brighton Crown Court on October 6, James Sinden, 43, was jailed for four years for assault by penetration and one year for false imprisonment to run concurrently. Sinden, of no fixed address, was also sentenced to an additional month in prison for a previous suspended sentence for attempted burglary, and two months for assault from a community order which was breached. A seven-year restraining order was also put in place. The circumstances around his arrest are that on November 9, 2025, Sinden’s distressed victim boarded a bus in Hove with the accused and whispered to the driver that she was experiencing domestic abuse. The driver removed Sinden from the bus, drove further along the route to ensure Sinden was separated from the victim, and called police. Photo: Sussex Police

A domestic abuser who assaulted and choked a woman has been jailed. Jason Santon carried out offences between 2022 and 2023. It included choking the victim, and assaults which left her requiring hospital treatment. The victim described her “constant fear” over Santon’s violence, and said: “I never want to feel this way again, and I never want other women to feel that way.” At Portsmouth Crown Court on September 18, Santon, aged 37, of Mead Way, Midhurst, appeared for sentencing after being found guilty of three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of intentional strangulation. He was jailed for three years, and the court imposed a restraining order to prevent him contacting the victim which will last for five years. The court was told how during one incident in February 2022 Santon grabbed the victim by the neck and hair and attempted to choke her. Then in March 2022 Santon had knelt on the victims chest and choked her. In a further incident in July 2023 he struck the victim, which left her needing to attend hospital. The victim reported the offences to Sussex Police and Santon was arrested.

4. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in October 2026

A domestic abuser who assaulted and choked a woman has been jailed. Jason Santon carried out offences between 2022 and 2023. It included choking the victim, and assaults which left her requiring hospital treatment. The victim described her “constant fear” over Santon’s violence, and said: “I never want to feel this way again, and I never want other women to feel that way.” At Portsmouth Crown Court on September 18, Santon, aged 37, of Mead Way, Midhurst, appeared for sentencing after being found guilty of three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of intentional strangulation. He was jailed for three years, and the court imposed a restraining order to prevent him contacting the victim which will last for five years. The court was told how during one incident in February 2022 Santon grabbed the victim by the neck and hair and attempted to choke her. Then in March 2022 Santon had knelt on the victims chest and choked her. In a further incident in July 2023 he struck the victim, which left her needing to attend hospital. The victim reported the offences to Sussex Police and Santon was arrested. Photo: Sussex Police