Lewes Crown Court Sentencing Results

Michael Warrent, 40, of Warbleton Close, Brighton, went to his brother Lee's ex-wife Carole's home just days after Lee was jailed for harassing her in January last year. He shouted through her letterbox: 'I tell you now, you stupid slag, I will burn your house down you fucking wait.' Although she was asleep, the rant was caught on her doorbell camera, leaving her shaken and scared.

Adam Gibbs, 35, from Worthing, committed 22 fresh shoplifting offences between December and January, stealing goods worth more than £1,800 including ribeye steaks, vodka, whiskey, shampoo, butter, electric toothbrushes, and candles from stores such as Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer, and Boots. He breached a prior Criminal Behaviour Order 15 times despite serving a suspended sentence for earlier thefts. Identified as a serial offender during Operation Apprentice by the Worthing Response Investigation Team.

Dean Heron, 38, of no fixed address, confronted the victim at around 7am on 9 July 2025 in Waterside Close, Bewbush, Crawley. As the victim returned home in his car following a night shift, Heron launched an unprovoked assault on his driveway. He struck the victim to the face, took out a knife during the struggle, and then choked the victim. Neighbours alerted police, leading to Heron's arrest.

On the evening of November 2, 2023, Leighton Ashby, 22, from Beckett Road in Ashford, and Oakley Hollands drove to a field near Ditchling Beacon on the South Downs. They chased sheep, caught one, and violently assaulted it using explosive ‘bangers’ to cause catastrophic injuries, killing the animal. Footage of the attack was found on Hollands’ phone, and the sheep’s ear tags were recovered from a nearby property linked to Ashby. The incident was reported to Sussex Police on November 6, 2023, leading to their arrest on November 8, 2023.

On the evening of November 2, 2023, Oakley Hollands, 20, from Mussenden Lane in Horton Kirby, and Leighton Ashby drove to a field near Ditchling Beacon on the South Downs. They chased sheep, caught one, and violently assaulted it using explosive ‘bangers’ to cause catastrophic injuries, killing the animal. Footage of the attack was found on Hollands’ phone, and the sheep’s ear tags were recovered from a nearby property linked to Ashby. The incident was reported to Sussex Police on November 6, 2023, leading to their arrest on November 8, 2023.

Anthony Bath, a scout leader from Portslade, engaged in online conversations with an undercover police officer posing as a man abusing his step-daughter. On 9 January 2024, Bath began communicating via a private chat room with an undercover officer, revealing a sexual interest in children and discussing his role as a scout leader. He responded enthusiastically to a fabricated abuse scenario, sent a picture of himself in underwear, agreed to meet, and shared indecent images including a category A image. He was arrested on 29 January 2024, and indecent images were found on his devices. He pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating a child sex offence, two counts of distributing indecent images of children, and three counts of making indecent images of children.

James Gathercole, 40, of Leigham Court Road, Streatham, exposed himself and masturbated in front of a woman in her 20s on a train from London Victoria to East Grinstead on July 15, 2025. He was caught staring at her, then undressed and performed the act after passengers alighted at East Croydon. The victim reported the incident at Upper Warlingham, leading to his arrest at East Grinstead where he was found asleep. This occurred just 12 days after his release on licence. He had prior convictions for similar acts in July 2024 at Motspur Park and West Sutton, identified via victim footage and CCTV.

On 20 September 2024, police went to arrest Reece Hodges at a property in Arun Road, Bognor, for recall to prison where he was serving a sentence for stalking. He climbed onto the roof and garage, initiating a 12-hour stand-off during which he threatened to ignite a propane gas cylinder. Neighbours were evacuated, and a significant emergency service response was required. Officers from the Tactical Enforcement Unit entered a garage full of obstacles and arrested Hodges before he could set the gas cylinder on fire, fearing he had doused himself and the floor in petrol or accelerant.

Ray Lombard, 46, of Croft Road, Crowborough, East Sussex, was sentenced for a series of grave child sex offences committed online. He was investigated after police identified him accessing child abuse material on the internet. He livestreamed child abuse, arranged for acts of sexual abuse against children, and paid perpetrators, including a vulnerable woman in Ukraine who produced sexual abuse material featuring her under-five daughter. Over 5,000 category A and B child abuse images and extreme pornographic images were found on his devices, along with screen recordings of live-streamed abuse. He had connections with other distributors of child abuse material and discussed paedophilia and exploitation. Lombard was arrested on 19 March 2024 and charged on 12 March 2025. He pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown Court on 31 October 2025 and was sentenced on 15 January 2026.

Charles Wood, 34, of Bowness Avenue, Sompting, used voice-changing technology to catfish teenage girls and young women on TikTok and Instagram. Posing as a teenage girl named ‘Riley’, he pressured victims into sending sexually explicit images and videos, some of which he shared with other predatory men. He possessed 30 child abuse images across categories A, B and C, as well as an extreme pornographic image. He also sent false messages claiming ‘Riley’ was self‑harming and pretended to be her mother. Arrested on 21 November 2024, he pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 14 November 2025 and was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on 13 January 2026.

Mikey Winchester, 25, posed as a teenage girl on Snapchat and Instagram to groom three young girls (two aged 10, one aged 13) in 2022 and 2023. He sent explicit images and asked the victims to send explicit images in return. Police traced the accounts to his home and arrested him in May 2023. His devices contained 69 child sex abuse images and four images of extreme animal pornography. He was charged with three counts of sexual communication with a child, inciting sexual activity with a child (with and without penetration), three counts of making indecent images of a child, and four counts of possession of extreme pornography.

Between 2017 and 2018, Benoy Thomas, director of A Class Care Recruitment Ltd based in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, recruited 13 Indian nationals to work as care assistants despite knowing they had no right to work in the UK. He deliberately organised work for them, as evidenced by timesheets, invoices, text messages, bank statements, handwritten notes, and diary entries. Thomas attempted to conceal employment documentation from immigration officers in a garage before his arrest. The illegal workers provided care to vulnerable people without adequate training or medical expertise, putting their safety at risk.

Riley Pettitt, a 24-year-old man from Whitehawk, Brighton, residing at Lower Chalvington Place, appeared at Lewes Crown Court charged with seven offences related to child abuse imagery, extreme pornography, and drug supply. He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children, two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images, one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child, and one count of being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug, MDMA. An additional charge of possessing MDMA with intent to supply was denied and was left on file by the court. On 1 December 2025, Pettitt was sentenced to 30 months custody. In recognition of the seriousness of the offences, the judge also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, placed Pettitt on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, and enforced a five-year restraining order. The case was investigated by Sussex Police and reported by Regency Radio on 10 December 2025.

John Simpson, 52, of Sheffield Park Way, Eastbourne, groomed and repeatedly sexually abused a 13-year-old girl in 2011, convincing her they were in a normal relationship. The abuse continued for several months before she cut contact. She reported the offences to police in 2021. Simpson was arrested and charged with 13 counts of sexual activity with a child and 2 counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. At Lewes Crown Court, he was found guilty of 9 counts of sexual activity with a child and 2 counts of causing or inciting. He was sentenced to 9 years 6 months in prison, placed on the sex offenders register for life, and given an indefinite restraining order against the victim.

On the evening of 23 July 2024, Jason Cook was drinking with his father and brother at the Smugglers Return pub. During a confrontation, he picked up an umbrella base and threw it at someone, and threw glasses towards the group which smashed. He later shouted to his brother Matthew to 'get the shooter', prompting Matthew to fetch a knife. Jason was arrested outside the pub.

During the violent confrontation at the Smugglers Return pub in Worthing on 23 July 2024, Matthew Cook, after his brother Jason shouted to 'get the shooter', cycled away and returned wielding a large knife. He slashed at the group of customers who were trapped in a wooden booth with no means of escape. At least three members sustained arm wounds while trying to defend themselves. Matthew fled but was later arrested.

On 23 July 2024, Derek Cook was drinking with his sons at the Smugglers Return pub in Worthing. They became involved in a confrontation with another group of customers in the outside seating area. Derek attempted to punch one individual, then later hit a female member of the group over the head with an umbrella pole and jabbed it into her body, causing significant bruising. He was arrested outside the pub.

Thomas Murphy was driving a silver Kia Sedona with cloned number plates and failed to stop for police. He evaded pursuit by speeding at up to 80mph in a 50mph zone, driving on the wrong side of the road, ignoring traffic lights, and overtaking dangerously. On 7 March 2025, he collided head-on with a family car near Godstone, causing life-changing injuries to the occupants while under the influence of drugs.

George Leighton, 26, of no fixed address, began a relationship with a woman in January 2025, which turned violent after eight months. On September 14, 2025, while driving from Sunbury, he strangled her twice until she couldn't breathe and punched her face, causing swelling. On October 10, 2025, at home, he strangled her again, pushing her against a bed headboard, causing bruising, and hit her face. On October 15, 2025, while driving, after she refused to lend him her car, he repeatedly banged her head against the car door until she lost consciousness. He was arrested on October 21, 2025.

Bradley Scott, 27, of Limpsfield Avenue, Thornton Heath in Croydon, ran a service with Jevonte White to deliver knives, class A and class B drugs, and illicit mobile phones into 17 British prisons using drones between January and June 2024. Contraband was hidden inside mango flavoured Rubicon drinks and Alpro almond milk cartons. They conducted 105 drops, peaking at 28 in March, with Scott involved in nearly twice as many operations as White. Police analysed phones and vehicle movements to identify the prison visits.

Jevonte White, 18, of Nutfield Road, Thornton Heath, ran a service with Bradley Scott to deliver knives, class A and class B drugs, and illicit mobile phones into 17 British prisons using drones between January and June 2024. Contraband was hidden inside mango flavoured Rubicon drinks and Alpro almond milk cartons. They conducted 105 drops, peaking at 28 in March, exploiting holes in prison security at facilities including HMP Lewes (breached 27 times), Rye Hill, Onley, and others.

George Voisey, a 24-year-old Sussex Police officer, was caught after the National Crime Agency alerted the force to offences in October 2024. He admitted one count of making a category A indecent image of a child via a Snapchat video, and two counts relating to five category B and seven category C images. The offences took place between 22 June 2024 and 24 October 2024, while he was not on duty. He was arrested on 24 October 2024, suspended from duty, and later resigned on 1 March 2025.

Russell King hid four bin bags containing 100kg of ketamine in a Fiat motorhome and transported them from Rotterdam to Hull on August 24, 2024. He was also involved in importing 632kg of ketamine in July 2023. Police arrested him at his home in Royston, Barnsley, after which officers from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit seized the drugs with a street value of £2 million. The wider organised crime group was identified and charged in partnership with Sussex Police.

The incident occurred at 12:10pm on December 13th, 2023, when Cole was travelling down a stretch of the A27 in Southborne. Driving his van at 72mph, 12 mph above the speed limit for his vehicle, he became distracted by social media on his mobile phone. He failed to see what was ahead of him on the carriageway, and collided with a broken-down car, seriously injuring its driver. Although the accident occurred on a straight stretch of road, it was found that excessive speed and lack of attention to the road ahead led to what could have been a fatal accident. The injured driver sustained life-changing injuries.

Adrian West subjected his ex-partner Louise Simpson to months of violent attacks, including strangling, punching, and kicking her at her home in Crawley, Sussex. After being removed from the property, he returned on September 13, 2024, and smashed her doorbell camera with a rock. He was arrested for criminal damage but released without charge the next day. Later that day, he returned and started a fire in the porch using white spirit as an accelerant, which engulfed the house while Louise was napping inside, forcing her to flee and resulting in the death of her three-year-old British Bulldog, Peggy, who was trapped under the bed.

Kevin Wyeth, a 39-year-old predator from Eastbourne, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on 2 May 2025 for a series of online child sexual offences targeting four girls under the age of 13. Wyeth used a mobile phone account to impersonate a teenage boy, bullying and coercing the victims into providing indecent images and videos. He exploited their fears by making threats to locate and rape them, and forced them to engage in sexual activity through group chat messages. Officers from Sussex Police's Online Child Abuse Team (OCAT) located him at a flat in Eastbourne in March 2023, where they seized a mobile phone that contained the illicit material. The investigation revealed Wyeth's extensive criminal history, including prior convictions in 2018 and 2020 for making indecent images and engaging in sexual communications with a child, as well as a 2023 sentence for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). During the 2023 incident, Wyeth refused to provide the PIN for his phone, leading to further probes that uncovered offences against the four victims. He was charged with 35 counts, encompassing seven counts of distributing indecent images, ten counts of making indecent images, five counts of engaging in sexual communications with a child, one count of attempting to engage in such communications, three counts of breaching a SHPO, three counts of inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity (including one count of penetrative activity), two counts of threatening to disclose private sexual photographs to cause distress, and three counts of malicious communications. The court imposed a 20-year extended sentence on Wyeth, consisting of 15 years' imprisonment followed by five years on licence. He had been remanded in custody since his initial hearing at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 12 October 2024. The victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, have received support from specially trained officers. One victim shared: “He made me feel like I could not talk to anybody.” Parents of the victims described the profound impact, with one calling Wyeth a “prolific child predator” who inflicted “lasting emotional scars” and shattered trust in the online world. Another parent noted changes in their daughter's behaviour due to the ongoing fear and trauma caused by Wyeth's actions. Detective Constable Gary Baker from the OCAT team stated: “Wyeth preyed on the fears of the girls to commit his crimes. He has repeatedly committed similar offences, breached Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, and is a danger to children. His crimes have caused lasting harm to the victims, who all require ongoing support.” This case underscores Sussex Police's commitment to pursuing online child abusers, as evidenced by the thorough investigation that led to Wyeth's conviction. The offences occurred prior to his arrest in March 2023, with the victims all under 13 at the time.