Saltdean man jailed for attempted witness intimidation

Police said Abubaker Deghayes, 50, formerly of Arundel Drive East, Saltdean, had denied the charge but was found guilty of attempted witness intimidation against a woman known to him and her brother on November 27, 2017, following a trial at Blackfriars Crown Court in London in April this year.

Deghayes was sentenced at the court for the charge shortly after he was found not guilty of assaulting the woman at a flat in Brighton on May 15, 2017, following a three-day retrial today (Thursday, August 30).

The court heard that Deghayes told the victim’s brother to tell her to drop the case against him for assaulting her and not to go to court, despite him having court bail conditions not to contact his victim directly or indirectly.

He said she could leave the country and threatened to have her shot if she did not comply.

Detective Constable Jenny Pietersen said: “Sussex Police and the criminal justice system takes any interference with witnesses in court cases seriously and I believe the sentence Deghayes was given reflects this.”