St Leonards men sentenced after stealing from Salvation Army clothing banks across East Sussex

By Richard Gladstone
Published 1st Sep 2024, 12:02 BST
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Two men from St Leonards have been sentenced after stealing items from clothing banks across East Sussex, police said.

Hastings Police said on its Facebook page today (Sunday, September 1) that the pair were first arrested on June 30 at the Salvation Army clothing bank located in Market Square, Battle.

A police spokesperson said: “At the time of their arrest, the van they were operating was so heavily loaded with clothes that they were struggling to secure its doors.

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“Viktoras Samulilis, 30, of St Leonards, and Deividas Savickis, 24, also of St Leonards, were detained on charges of theft from Salvation Army clothing banks. This action followed reports of over 22 thefts from clothing banks across East Sussex.

Police said the van the two men were operating was so heavily loaded with clothes that they were struggling to secure its doorsPolice said the van the two men were operating was so heavily loaded with clothes that they were struggling to secure its doors
Police said the van the two men were operating was so heavily loaded with clothes that they were struggling to secure its doors

“Both men appeared before Hastings Magistrates on August 21 in connection with thefts from clothes banks in Battle and Eastbourne.

“They were each sentenced to a community order requiring them to complete 120 hours of unpaid work within 12 months. Additionally, they were ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.

“As a result of these thefts, the Salvation Army reported a loss of several tonnes of donated clothing.”