Bexhill Burglar Busted and Jailed for Business Break-Ins
Alan Richardson, 49, has been locked up for a spree of break-ins that hit three Bexhill town centre businesses. The Devonshire Road local faced Lewes Crown Court on 23 December, admitting to three counts of burglary and tampering with a vehicle in Hastings.
Three Burglaries in a Month
- On 29 October, Richardson smashed into Pebbles on the Beach restaurant, nicking a till with some cash.
- Between 23-24 November, he raided IMG Chartered Accountants, stealing cash, a £70 crystal decanter set, and a Nescafe jar.
- Also on 24 November, he hit Poppyseed Bakery, running off with a hefty amount of cash.
- He also damaged a vehicle in Maze Hill, Hastings, earlier in October.
16 Months Behind Bars
Richardson was sentenced to 16 months in prison, with the judge factoring in that he breached a suspended sentence from 2021. The swift police work following forensic evidence nailed the crook within 48 hours, recovering some stolen goods along the way.
“This is a great result. Business crime hits hard and we understand the impact on shop owners and the community,” said Rother District Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Olivia Carroll.
“We’ll keep working with businesses to protect them and bring criminals to justice.”
Sussex Police’s Business Crime Team Steps Up
Sussex Police’s dedicated Business Crime Team, partnering with groups like the Business Crime Reduction Partnership and Safer Sussex Business Partnership, works hard to shield local businesses from harm.
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: “Richardson’s crimes damaged livelihoods but we’re proud he’s been caught and prosecuted.”
“We urge businesses to report incidents, helping us build strong cases and keep Sussex safer.”
