Lewes Crown Court Sentencing Results

Kuba Graczyk, 37, stole diesel fuel from a construction site in Arundel in November 2024 and was arrested in December 2024 on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and possession of amphetamines. In January 2025 he damaged a fuel bowser and fencing at a construction site in Chichester and stole diesel fuel. In March 2025 he broke into an office building, stole a vehicle, laptops and other items, and was found by a police dog in nearby woodland. In July 2025 he broke into another office building in Three Bridges where damage was caused to gain entry and tools linked to him by DNA were found.

Joseph Haffenden, a former primary school teacher, sexually assaulted two nine-year-old boys between January and February 2026 by tickling them under their clothing with his hands, a feather, and an electric toothbrush in what he called a 'game'. The offences were reported to Sussex Police on February 12, and he was arrested. Officers searched his property and found items indicating an interest in children. He was later suspended from his teaching role and dismissed.

David Mann burgled a property in Hove in the early hours of 27 June after scaling scaffolding and forcing entry through a bathroom window, stealing jewellery and electronics. On 28 June he stole around £200 of products from a health store in Brighton. On 12 July he stole an iPad from a student housing reception desk in Brighton. On 20 July a purse was reported stolen from a property in Hove; unauthorised transactions were later made with its bank cards. On 14 July he stole a mobile phone and other items from a vehicle in central Brighton. He was identified via CCTV and arrested on 30 July carrying a multitool, a torch and metal bars.

Andrew Evans advertised himself as a childminder on a childcare website while on police bail with conditions preventing unsupervised contact with children. He sexually abused a young girl, and indecent images of a child were found on his mobile phone. He was already serving a prison sentence of more than 14 years for abusing four children, and the new sentence will run consecutively.

Steven Stacey burgled six addresses and attempted to burgle a seventh in Eastbourne between 17 March and 29 April 2026. He often knocked on doors to check no one was home before smashing through a back door or window and taking items. He was arrested on 14 April, claimed in interview that he had entered properties as an 'urban explorer', was granted bail, and then targeted four more addresses within a week. He was arrested again on 30 April and later pleaded guilty to all charges.

Muhammad Saeed entered a petrol station in Burgess Hill on 15 December 2025 and ignored a request not to eat cookies and drink coffee on the premises. After an argument at the counter he was asked to leave but refused, then threw a cup of hot coffee over the victim and further assaulted him by punching and kicking. He then stole a new coffee from the machine and left without paying. He was identified from CCTV images and arrested.

Michael Fry faced charges arising from allegations in April 2025 that he drugged a man, raped him, filmed a private act, and blackmailed him. The blackmail charge was quashed at Lewes Crown Court and the Crown offered no further evidence on the remaining charges. He was sentenced after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and being concerned in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs.

Sussex Police launched an investigation after reports in early November 2022 of a man appearing without clothing in a window. Reginald Chan was arrested and a search of his address found more than 50 electronic and computer devices. Those devices contained child sexual abuse images, extreme pornography, prohibited images, and recordings showing historic offences against a young victim. He was later arrested with further devices in breach of a Sexual Risk Order. At Lewes Crown Court on 22 July, he was jailed for five-and-a-half years, with an additional two years added to his licence period as part of an extended sentence.

Michael Stanley took a bottle of vodka from a supermarket in Worthing without attempting to pay. When challenged by a security guard, he struck the guard with the bottle, causing injuries including to the eye. The incident occurred on May 1, 2025. The victim said in an impact statement that he was off work for a short period and feared his sight would be permanently impaired.

Andrew Prince was involved in an established drug supply operation in the Hastings area. After being arrested in February 2022, he fled the UK and was on the run for around four years before being traced to Tbilisi, Georgia. He was extradited to the UK in April 2026. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A, B and C drugs, possessing counterfeit currency with intent, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm against a woman.

Bradley Bailey pleaded guilty to seven counts of burglary other than a dwelling and two counts of theft from a shop. He was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court.

On Saturday 14 March 2026 at around 10.25pm, Daniel Bowler entered the Tesco Express on Jubilee Street, Brighton. He loaded a basket with alcohol and attempted to leave without paying. A security guard observed his suspicious behaviour and stood between Bowler and the exit. Bowler threatened violence and pulled a knife from his trousers. The security guard ejected him from the shop, recovered as many bottles of alcohol as possible, and locked the doors. Police arrived within five minutes; staff and customers had secured themselves inside, and no one was injured. Bowler was identified from CCTV, arrested on 21 March, and charged the next day with robbery and possession of a knife. He was remanded in custody at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 23 March, pleaded not guilty on 20 April, and then pleaded guilty to both offences on 9 June at Lewes Crown Court.

Jon Healey, 45, broke into a home in Lewes while the owner was away and stole valuable jewellery. He was arrested on 9 May 2026 after being found hiding inside a wardrobe at an address. Sussex Police linked him to the burglary through evidence gathered by their burglary team.

On 17 January at around 6.40pm, Steven Mulroe followed a woman on a bicycle through Crawley's West Green Park. He cycled past her, then turned back, grabbed her purse and demanded she hand over her bag before fleeing. He later attempted to use the victim's bank card to make purchases. Officers linked him via CCTV and arrested him in a car park. Further offences included thefts of chocolates and other goods from local Sainsbury's stores.

Aji Sinera approached the victim while he was withdrawing cash at an ATM in Brighton on 27 October 2025. When he refused to give her money, she shoved him to the ground and stole his wallet and bank card. CCTV showed her using the stolen card in nearby shops and buying takeaway food. She was arrested on 30 October and later pleaded guilty.

Gerald Peck, who falsely claimed to be an accredited psychotherapist, sexually assaulted a patient during so-called therapy sessions. He was found guilty of three sexual assaults and two charges of assault by penetration. Peck deceived the patient into believing the sexual acts were part of legitimate Bioenergetic Analysis therapy to ease her pain, obtaining her consent through lies. He admitted in police interviews to developing 'his own niche treatment' and getting carried away, but the acts were for his own sexual gratification.