Man sent to prison for stealing lottery money from colleagues in Bognor Regis and lying to police

An eight-month prison sentence was given to a man who falsely reported a robbery so he could steal lottery money from his colleagues at a publishing company based in Chichester and Bognor Regis.

Stephen Drew, 33, from Nottingham, was sentenced today (August 14) at Chichester Crown Court for perverting the course of justice and theft.

He pleaded guilty at court in July.

Because of Mr Drew's false report eight innocent people who were on holiday in the Bognor Regis area were arrested and held in police custody on suspicion of robbing him.

They were later released with no further action.

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Drew ran the work lottery syndicate whilst he was employed by John Wiley & Sons in Bognor Regis.

DC Alex Campbell said: "I would like to thank Wiley and all their staff for their assistance in this matter and helping to bring this man to justice."

"We hope this will act as a deterrent to others who feel they can report false crimes in order to hide their own criminal activity and waste the time of the police and the criminal justice system."

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