Man Jailed After Crawley Stabbing Incident
Sussex Police were called to reports of a man armed with a knife at Dalewood Gardens at around 6:40 p.m. on 5 February. Upon arrival, officers found a 46-year-old man from Crawley suffering from a stab wound. He was immediately taken to hospital for treatment. The court heard that the attacker, Louis Munorrah, stabbed the […]
Joseph Eubank Walks Free After Brighton Rape Trial
A man charged with two counts of rape near Brighton Palace Pier has been acquitted after a jury returned a not-guilty verdict. The case centred around an incident that occurred on the evening of 16 July 2022. A then-16-year-old girl reported being raped close to the iconic pier in Brighton. Following her report, specialist officers […]
Two Men Jailed for Violent Burglary in Seaford
A group of offenders from London have been sentenced following a violent burglary at a property in Seaford. The burglary occurred on 7 January at a home in Coxwell Close. Police reported that two men, Remy Cadoret and Romeo Dankwa, along with a 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, forced their way […]
Eastbourne Resident Receives 20-Year Sentence for Child Rape
Keith Williams, 60, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the rape and sexual abuse of a young girl in Sussex. The abuse, which occurred over several years, was reported to Sussex Police in May 2020 after the victim confided in a family member. The girl, whose identity is protected, received support from […]
Man Charged with Assault, Strangulation, and Threats in West Sussex
A man has been charged with several violent offences following a series of incidents across West Sussex. Luke Maddran, 37, who has no fixed address, was arrested on 17 September in Brighton.
Officers were called to multiple reports between April and September 2024, concerning assaults and threats made against a woman in her 20s. Maddran has now been charged with actual bodily harm, controlling and coercive behaviour, non-fatal strangulation, and sending death threats via communication.
Maddran appeared before Brighton Magistrates Court on 19 September and was remanded in custody. His case will be heard at Lewes Crown Court on 17 October.
Detective Sergeant Dan Bridger from the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigation Unit stated: “Our safeguarding unit is committed to protecting victims of domestic violence. We stand together to ensure safety, support, and justice for those affected.”
Hastings Man Behind Bars After Setting Two East Sussex Homes on Fire
A Hastings man, Alex Reynolds, has been sentenced to nine years and three months in prison after setting fire to two properties in East Sussex. The 27-year-old, of Edmund Road, Hastings, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on 13 September following a series of arson attacks that put lives at risk.
The first fire occurred on 13 November 2023, at a property in St Marks Close, Bexhill. Police were called to the scene shortly before 10pm, where significant damage had been done to the home. Reynolds was arrested and released under investigation.
However, on 19 March 2024, another suspicious fire broke out at a property in Theaklen Drive, St Leonards. Reynolds was found near the site and subsequently arrested. After thorough investigation, it was revealed that Reynolds was present at both crime scenes. He pleaded guilty to arson charges, first in May at Lewes Crown Court for the Bexhill fire, and then in July at Brighton Magistrates’ Court for the St Leonards incident.
Lewes Crown Court se..
Woman Who Stabbed Man and Poured Bleach in His Eyes Sentenced
A Hastings woman, Marlena Meczynska-Shiibashi, has been sentenced to seven years in prison after a violent assault on a man at her home. The 38-year-old grievously attacked the victim, who was known to her, using a knife and bleach in a shocking incident.
The assault took place on March 4, 2023, when the victim was attempting to sleep. Meczynska-Shiibashi retrieved a knife from the kitchen and bleach from the bathroom before stabbing him and pouring bleach into his eyes. When police arrived at the scene, she told officers: “I didn’t just stab him in the leg you know, I poured bleach in his eyes.”
The victim continues to suffer from the traumatic experience, experiencing flashbacks, anxiety, and depression.
On September 13, at Lewes Crown Court, Meczynska-Shiibashi was sentenced after admitting to causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The court rejected her claims about the victim’s behavior, following a thorough investigation by the Safeguarding Investigation Unit, which found n..
A Bedford man who groomed a 13-year-old boy on Snapchat and drove to Worthing to rape him has been jailed
Thomas Crabtree, 35, of Sundew Close in Bedford, was sentenced to serve ten years in prison, followed by six years on licence, when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court on 12 September.
He will also be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
Detective Chief Inspector Carrie Williams said: “Thomas Crabtree is a predator who, thanks to the bravery of this young boy, is now safely behind bars.
“He manipulated and took advantage of the boy, who suffered an unimaginable ordeal over several hours. The boy was incredibly courageous in helping bring his attacker to justice and ensure he poses no further risk to anyone.
“I would like to thank him and his family for their determination.”
Crabtree contacted the boy on Snapchat, using the name Will, and repeatedly sent him sexually explicit images.
He arranged to meet his victim in Worthing on 3 April, 2024. He picked him up in his car, drove him to a remote area near Goring Gap in Worthing and raped him.
Crabtree then drove the boy aro..
Pianist Jailed for 7 Years After Stabbing Boyfriend in Groin
A gifted pianist from East Sussex has been sentenced to seven years in prison after stabbing her boyfriend in the groin and pouring bleach on his face when he refused to have sex with her, a court heard.
Marlena Meczynska-Shiibashi, 38, attacked her 50-year-old boyfriend in her Hastings flat after he turned her down for sex. Lewes Crown Court was told that she waited until he had fallen asleep before pouring bleach on his face and stabbing him in the groin, narrowly missing his penis. The court heard that the couple had been in a volatile, on-and-off relationship since 2011.
During her trial, Meczynska-Shiibashi admitted she “wanted to harm his penis but missed.” She pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The court was told that Meczynska-Shiibashi had invited her boyfriend over after family members expressed concern for her. The couple initially had sex, but when Meczynska-Shiibashi failed to climax, the boyfriend left to complete some errands before ..
Pianist Jailed for Seven Years After Stabbing Boyfriend in Groin and Dousing Him with Bleach
A gifted pianist from East Sussex has been sentenced to seven years in prison after stabbing her boyfriend in the groin and pouring bleach on his face when he refused to have sex with her, a court heard. The court was told that Meczynska-Shiibashi had invited her boyfriend over after family members expressed concern for […]
People Smuggler Jailed for 10 Years in UK Immigration Case
A man involved in a dangerous people smuggling operation has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for facilitating unlawful immigration into the United Kingdom. Anas Al Mustafa, 43, was found guilty at Lewes Crown Court and sentenced today. The vehicle was stopped at Newhaven, Sussex, after arriving on a ferry from Dieppe, France. Border […]
Police Crack Down on Crawley’s Repeat Offenders with Behaviour Orders
In an ongoing effort to curb persistent criminal activity, Crawley police have issued nine Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) to some of the town’s most prolific offenders since the start of the year. These orders impose strict conditions on offenders, designed to prevent further criminal behavior, with violations resulting in immediate imprisonment.
One of the most notable cases is that of Thierry Piron, 35, of no fixed address. Piron was sentenced to 20 months in prison after appearing before Lewes Crown Court on 22 August. His sentence comes in response to a series of thefts and an assault that took place across Crawley between April and August. Alongside his prison term, Piron was issued a three-year CBO, prohibiting him from entering specific stores in Crawley and across West Sussex.
Another offender, Damien O’Hare, 48, also of no fixed address, was recently sentenced to three years and three months’ imprisonment. O’Hare was found guilty of multiple shoplifting offences in Crawley..
Van Driver Convicted of Smuggling Migrants Found Screaming for Help on Ferry
A van driver has been found guilty of smuggling seven migrants who were discovered screaming for help from a hidden compartment in his vehicle as they were starved of oxygen during a ferry crossing from France to the UK. Anas Al Mustafa, 43, was convicted of assisting unlawful migration after a jury at Lewes Crown […]
People Smuggler Convicted After 7 Migrants Found in Overheated Lorry Compartment
A people smuggler who endangered the lives of seven migrants by cramming them into a tiny, overheated compartment in his lorry has been convicted today at Lewes Crown Court. Anas Al Mustafa, 43, was found guilty of facilitating the breach of UK immigration law after ferry staff discovered the migrants desperately calling for help at […]
Horsham Resident Sent Over £46,000 to Philippines for Child Abuse Images
A Horsham man has been sentenced to 56 months in prison after repeatedly sending large sums of money to individuals in the Philippines in exchange for indecent images of children.
Laurence Harvey, 65, of Searles View, Horsham, was found to have sent a total of £46,467 to various people linked to child sexual exploitation between September 2, 2011, and August 9, 2021. His activities came to light when he was arrested in May 2022, leading to the seizure of several devices that contained explicit images and communications with children.
Investigations revealed that Harvey had been directly communicating with children, coercing them into performing sexual acts. In one particularly egregious instance, he sent money to a woman who provided him with indecent images of a child she claimed was her daughter.
Despite Harvey’s claims that the money was intended for charitable purposes or for online sexual activities with adults, the evidence against him was overwhelming. He was subsequently cha..
Brighton Students Jailed After Importing Cannabis in Hidden Parcels
Photo – Sussex Police
Two students in Brighton have been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of importing large quantities of cannabis into the city.
Yu Tang, 26, of Fleet Street, Brighton, and Jiangpeng Wei, 26, of Kingscote Way, Brighton, were involved in a scheme to bring cannabis into the UK from the USA and Canada. The pair were caught after detectives noticed that they were frequently collecting packages not addressed to them from various shared student accommodations across Brighton.
Upon searching these packages, officers discovered significant amounts of herbal cannabis, which had been double vacuum-packed and hidden among everyday items such as T-shirts. The investigation, which began in September 2023, led to the interception or seizure of over 40 parcels from the defendants’ addresses, with the total quantity of cannabis exceeding 40 kilograms.
In addition to the drugs, around £3,500 in cash was also seized during the investigation.
Both Tang and Wei w..
Eastbourne Man Convicted of Multiple Rapes and Assaults on Young Girl
An Eastbourne man has been convicted of multiple counts of rape and sexual assault against a young girl following a trial at Lewes Crown Court.
Keith Matthews, 60, of Tintern Close, Eastbourne, was found guilty of subjecting the victim, who was under 13 at the time, to a series of rapes and physical and sexual assaults in May 2020. The distressing incidents came to light when the young girl confided in a family member, leading to a report to Sussex Police.
Matthews was arrested and subsequently charged with four counts of rape of a child, along with one count each of assault by penetration of a child, sexual assault of a child, and cruelty to a child.
The jury reached a guilty verdict after a five-day trial, concluding on Friday, August 2nd. Matthews has been remanded in custody and is set to be sentenced on September 20th at a court to be confirmed.
Detective Sergeant Nick Green, from Eastbourne’s Safeguarding Investigations Unit, praised the victim’s courage in coming forward. He..
Serial Pharmacy Robber Jailed for 12 Years in Hastings
A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison following a string of armed robberies at pharmacies across East Sussex. Michael Youssefi, of Seven Acre Close in St Leonards, was found guilty of three robberies and multiple charges related to the possession of a knife in public.
The first robbery occurred on May 9, 2022, when Youssefi entered the Day Lewis Pharmacy on Mount Pleasant Road in Hastings. With his face covered and brandishing a large kitchen knife, he threatened a pharmacist and demanded Oxycontin, a controlled drug. After being handed the drug, Youssefi fled the scene. However, officers found blood at the pharmacy, which later linked him to the crime.
Three days later, on May 12, Youssefi was arrested after his description matched that provided by witnesses. Although he denied involvement and was initially released on bail, forensic evidence later confirmed his participation in the robbery.
Despite being under investigation, Youssefi committed further crimes w..
