These are some of the most serious, high profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the ninth month of 2024.
All information comes directly from Sussex Police.
13. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in September 2024
A man who murdered his girlfriend in Crawley has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Local resident Holly Sanchez was tragically found deceased at a bungalow in Oates Walk around 9am on May 13, 2023. She was aged 32. She died as a result of multiple injuries suffered during a domestic abusive relationship with 31-year-old Ryan Evans. Evans, of Oates Walk, Crawley, was arrested and charged with murder. He denied the offence and was remanded in custody to appear before Lewes Crown Court for trial on June 24. He was further charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, coercive and controlling behaviour and two counts of causing grievous bodily harm, all relating to Ms Sanchez. These four additional offences were in relation to incidents previously reported to Sussex Police. Evans was interviewed and bailed with strict conditions not to contact the victim directly or indirectly, and Ms Sanchez was referred to the relevant safeguarding agencies as the alleged offences were investigated. The CPS subsequently authorised these further charges – at the request of Sussex Police – following the murder charge, all of which Evans denied. On July 16, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on the offences of murder, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, coercive and controlling behaviour and one count of causing grievous bodily harm; Evans was found not guilty of the second count of grievous bodily harm. He was remanded in custody and appeared before Lewes Crown Court – sitting at Hove – on September 13, where he was sentenced to life and told he must serve a minimum of 23 years, minus time already spent on remand. Photo: Sussex Police
14. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in September 2024
A man has been jailed for assault against two people known to him following an incident in Hove. Kirolus Ramis was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on September 10 to 32 months’ imprisonment after he admitted to assault causing actual bodily harm, common assault and criminal damage. Officers were called to an address on Goldstone Crescent at around 1.30am on September 4, 2022 to a report of a disturbance. It was heard Ramis punched a woman and repeatedly attacked her, causing serious injuries, before also assaulting a girl. In March 2022, the woman also reported that Ramis damaged her phone. Ramis, 37, of Hangleton Road, Hove pleaded guilty to all charges on March 26. He is now behind bars. Photo: Sussex Police
15. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in September 2024
A dangerous driver has been sentenced for causing the death of a young woman in a car park in Crawley. Mark Coleman had attended the Dormans Park car park with friends and victim Leonie Jones. Following a sharp manoeuvre by Coleman, 18-year-old Leonie was ejected from a red Vauxhall Corsa and became trapped under the car. Expert reports showed that Coleman’s car had a defect passenger side door which was not properly secure. Coleman, now aged 23, was also over the legal alcohol limit. At Lewes Crown Court on September 12, Coleman, formerly of Forestfield, Crawley, admitted causing death by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to six years in prison, and was disqualified from driving for seven years. The court was told how the incident happened at about 2.40am on April 25, 2022, in the car park outside Dormans Youth Arts Centre in Crawley. Tragically, Leonie was trapped under the vehicle and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Forensic Collision Investigation reports showed markings in the car park which showed at the very least a sharp move by Coleman had been attempted. His passenger side door required a large amount of force from outside for it to be secured, and was not easy to close and keep closed by passengers inside the car. After being arrested, Coleman tested positive for 51 microgrammes (uhg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of breath. The legal limit is 35uhg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. He had been to the pub earlier in the night before driving. Photo: Sussex Police
16. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in September 2024
Two drug dealers have been sentenced after they were found selling and storing class A drugs from a rented property in St Leonards. Officers from Hastings Neighbourhood Enforcement Team were on patrol when they spotted Garey Cotter (left) selling class A drugs in Gensing Road. He was arrested and officers then searched a nearby property where Musa Massaquoi was found. Inside the address officers found heroin and crack cocaine worth £1,500 and they also found £6,500 in cash. Both men were arrested and released on bail whilst further enquires were conducted. Charges were later secured for the men being concerned in the supply of heroin, possession with intent to supply a class A drug – heroin , possession with intent to supply a class A drug – Crack cocaine, being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, and offences relating to money laundering. The arrests were another successful example of police work as part of Project Adder, using funding from the Government to tackle drug supply and usage in Hastings and St Leonards. At Lewes Crown Court on September 2, Massaquoi and Cotter were both jailed for two years and seven months. The court heard how the incident happened in November 2022. Cotter, now aged 48, formerly of Frant Road, Thornton Heath, London, was seen supplying class A drugs to a drug user in the street. He was arrested and keys to the house, rented out on a short term basis, fell out of his pocket. When police attended the address, Massaquoi, now aged 21, formerly of Armfield Crescent, Mitcham, at first tried to stop officers getting inside. Officers found the drugs and cash inside, and Massaquoi’s DNA was found on the wraps of the class A drugs. Both men were charged, but Cotter failed to surrender for bail three times, while other legal delays meant the case only fell for sentence on September 2. Photo: Sussex Police