Brighton Pride 2024: Essential Travel Information
With the Brighton Pride Festival set to conclude at 10:30 PM on Saturday, August 3, 2024, large crowds are expected to stay for the headline artists. Festival-goers are advised to plan their journey in advance, especially if leaving the city that night.
By Train:
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), operating Southern, Thameslink, and Gatwick Express services, is collaborating with Brighton & Hove Pride organisers, Sussex Police, Brighton & Hove City Council, and other partners to ensure smooth travel during the Pride weekend. More trains and extra carriages will be available to accommodate the increased number of passengers.
Travelers should note:
Allow extra time for travel as trains will be busy, and boarding the first service may not be possible.
Give yourself at least an hour to get to Brighton station from any festival site.
Purchase train tickets in advance to speed up the process.
For safety reasons, glass bottles or containers are not permitted at the station or on trains.
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Hastings Man Receives Ten-Year Sentence for Rape
A Hastings man, Nathan Ackerley, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for the rape of a vulnerable woman. Ackerley, 28, residing on School Road, attacked the woman in October 2021 after bringing her back to his home.
The woman, who had fallen asleep, awoke to find Ackerley assaulting her and discovered her clothing had been cut. She managed to escape and immediately reported the crime at a police station. Specialist officers provided her with support while Ackerley was located and arrested on suspicion of rape. A search of Ackerley’s phone revealed he had taken pictures of the victim while she was asleep.
Ackerley was charged with rape, sexual assault by touching, sexual assault by penetration, and voyeurism. On Friday, July 19, he was convicted of all charges, and on Monday, July 22, he was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment, with a minimum period of two-thirds. Additionally, Ackerley received a restraining order against the victim and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’..
Ex-Social Worker Pleads Guilty to Sexual Misconduct
A former social worker from West Sussex has been convicted of abusing his position to engage in sexual communications with vulnerable children. Thomas Weller, 33, from Horsham, was identified after an investigation was launched on 3 March when explicit messages were discovered on a vulnerable teenage girl’s Snapchat account. The messages, sent by Weller, were sexual in nature and persisted even after the girl disclosed she was a child. Weller also offered to buy her alcohol in exchange for sexual acts.
The investigation revealed Weller had misused his position to access personal data. He was arrested on 24 March, and further sexual communications with another teenage girl were found on his Snapchat account. Weller was subsequently charged with two counts of sexual communication with a child and misconduct in public office.
On 5 July, Weller pleaded guilty to both counts of sexual communication at Lewes Crown Court, and on 31 July, he admitted to the misconduct in public office. He ha..
Woman in Her 40s Found Dead in Peacehaven Flat
Emergency services responded to concerns for the welfare of a woman in her 40s at a flat in Lake Drive, Peacehaven, early Wednesday morning. Sussex Police, along with medics from South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECamb) and the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance (KSS Air Ambulance), which landed nearby, attended the scene.
Despite their best efforts to administer CPR, the woman could not be saved. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: “Police were called following concerns for the welfare of a woman in her 40s at a flat in Lake Drive, Peacehaven, in the early hours of Wednesday, July 31. Despite the best efforts of paramedics who commenced CPR, the woman was sadly declared deceased.
“There are no suspicious circumstances and this will now be a coronial matter.”
Man Stabbed in East Grinstead: Police Seek Witnesses
Emergency services rushed to the scene of a stabbing on Railway Approach, East Grinstead, at around 9:40 am on Wednesday, July 31. Medics from SECAmb and the KSS Air Ambulance attended to the victim, who was subsequently taken to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Sussex Police have described the incident as isolated and have launched an investigation to identify the suspect. The police are conducting enquiries and have increased their presence in the area to reassure the public and gather information.
A spokesman for Sussex Police stated, “Witnesses or anyone with any information or footage is asked to contact police online or call 101, quoting serial 396 of 31/07.”
Armed Officers Respond to Knife Fight on Brighton Seafront
Police officers pinned a man to the floor on the Brighton seafront after being called to reports of a group of people with knives. The incident occurred near the bottom of West Street around 7pm on Tuesday, July 30, prompting a swift response from Brighton police, including armed officers and dog units.
Video in collaboration with ImJustBrighton
Witnesses described the tense scene as officers subdued a man, confiscated a knife, and carried him away via the subway to West Street. The suspect, a 23-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and possession of a knuckle duster in public.
A spokesman for Sussex Police provided details of the incident, stating, “Police received a report of a fight involving a group of people with knives in the vicinity of West Street, Brighton, shortly after 7pm on Tuesday, July 30. In order to ensure the safety of the public, armed officers swiftly responded to the scene.”
The police confirmed the arrest, adding, “A 23-year..
Hastings Man Jailed for 10 Years for Rape of Vulnerable Woman
A man from Hastings has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of raping a woman while she slept, Sussex Police have confirmed. Sussex Police quickly located and arrested Ackerley on suspicion of rape. During their investigation, officers found incriminating evidence on Ackerley’s phone, including pictures of the victim taken while […]
Sussex Police Hunt for Man Caught with Weapon at Brighton Station
Police are on the hunt for Lucky Mahlalela, a man caught with a weapon and drugs at Brighton railway station after he failed to appear in court for sentencing. A spokesperson for BTP said: “Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Mahlalela is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 […]
Body of Man Found on Busy Sussex Beach
A man has been found dead on a busy holiday beach in Sussex this morning, prompting a police investigation to determine his identity and the circumstances surrounding his death. Emergency Response Scene Description The beach is expected to remain closed for some time while investigations continue. Authorities have thanked the public for their patience and […]
Body Discovered on Seaford Beach
Beachgoers were met with a grim discovery this morning when a body was found washed up on Seaford Beach near the Buckle. Emergency services swiftly responded to the scene at around 11:30 AM.
Sussex Police, HM Coastguard, and South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECamb) descended on the location to manage the situation.
A spokesman for Sussex Police provided the following statement:
“Emergency services were called to Seaford Beach at around 11:30 AM this morning after the body of a man was found on the beach. The beach is likely to remain closed for some time while this is ongoing, and we thank the public for their patience and understanding.
No further information is available at this time.”
The identity of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear as investigations are underway.
Environmental Activists from Just Stop Oil Stage Disruptive Protest at Gatwick Airport
In a bold move causing significant disruption at one of the UK’s busiest airports, environmental activists from the group Just Stop Oil have staged a protest at Gatwick Airport’s southern terminal. The incident, which began around 08:00 today, has resulted in the blocking of departure gates, potentially affecting hundreds of travellers. In a statement, Just […]
Investigation Underway After Disturbing Video Surfaces in Brighton
A concerning video has been circulating on social media, capturing public attention and prompting an immediate response from local authorities. The footage allegedly shows an individual clinging to the back of a moving bus in Brighton, visibly holding a knife. The incident has raised significant safety concerns among the community and authorities alike. We are […]
Brighton Man Jailed for Brutal Nightclub Assaults on Women
Photo – Sussex Police
A Brighton man has been sentenced after he brutally stamped on the head of a woman and sexually assaulted another in West Street.
Halcyon Platt, 21, of Ditchling Rise, Brighton, was sentenced on July 12, following incidents that occurred in the early morning of October 1, 2023. Platt was in a nightclub on West Street when he made unwanted advances towards a 20-year-old woman.
After being challenged on his behavior, Platt sexually assaulted the woman and grabbed her by the throat. The victim immediately called the police to report the crime. While she was on the phone, Platt became enraged with a second woman who attempted to assist a man nearby. He pushed the 23-year-old woman away, assaulted her, and threw her to the ground. Platt then callously stamped on her head multiple times, causing significant facial injuries.
Police quickly arrested Platt at the scene and took him into custody before he was bailed with strict conditions. He was charged on Marc..
Tragic Discovery Off South Coast: Missing Diver Found Deceased
The body of a missing diver was tragically recovered off the coast of Hastings this afternoon, days after he failed to resurface during a dive. Sussex Police confirmed that the man was found by fellow divers and identified as the individual reported missing last Saturday. The extensive search operation, which included air and sea assets, […]
Man Stabbed on Crawley High Street, Prompting Shutdown of Local Businesses
A serious incident occurred on Broadfield Barton high street in Crawley where a man was reportedly stabbed. Following the event, local authorities swiftly responded, leading to the closure of nearby pubs and shops as a safety precaution. The stabbing took place earlier in the day, causing immediate concern among residents and shoppers in the area. […]
Search for Missing Diver Off Hastings Called Off After No Trace Found
A major search operation for a diver who disappeared off the coast of Hastings has been officially called off, following an intensive 24-hour air and sea effort by emergency services. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the RNLI confirmed that all efforts to locate the diver, who failed to resurface on Saturday, concluded without success. […]
Urgent Appeal: Sussex Police Seek Missing Teenager Macey Taylor
Sussex Police have issued an urgent appeal to the public as concerns grow for the safety of 16-year-old Macey Taylor, who has been missing and is believed to be in the company of 20-year-old Billy Ross. The police appeal comes after Macey was last seen over a week ago, with both individuals known to frequently […]
Life Sentence for Rapist Who Attempted Murder to Conceal His Crimes
Anthony Stocks, a 54-year-old man from Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 19 and a half years, after he was found guilty of multiple sexual assaults and the attempted murder of a young boy. Oxford Crown Court heard how Stocks committed repeated sexual offences against a young girl […]