Lewes Crown Court Sentencing Results

Explore 20 verdicts at Lewes Crown Court (Lewes). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Gianpaulo Bambi

Supplying Class A and B Drugs

July 16, 2025

Sentence: 6 years imprisonment

Gianpaulo Bambi was involved in supplying class A and B drugs, leading to his sentencing at Lewes Crown Court on 16 July 2025.

Russell King

Importing cocaine

July 8, 2025

Sentence: 22 years imprisonment

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.

Found guilty of importing 70 kilos of cocaine after a six-week trial. Sentence includes six years for the motorhome offence and four years for the cannabis offence, running concurrently. Detective Superintendent Al Burns highlighted the operation's success in dismantling an international drug supply chain.

Sources: examinerlive.co.uk

Adrian West

Arson

May 2, 2025

Sentence: 6 years and 3 months imprisonment

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.

Pleaded guilty to arson with intent, criminal damage, non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and two counts of actual bodily harm. He was initially arrested and released without charge before committing the arson.

Sources: mirror.co.uk

Robbie Cook

Causing death by dangerous driving

November 22, 2024

Sentence: 18 years imprisonment

Robbie Cook, angered by a £3,500 drug deal involving fake cannabis (popcorn), pursued a Citroen Berlingo driven by Jonny Day through residential streets in Eastbourne, East Sussex, on February 13, 2023. The vehicles reached speeds over 50mph, collided, and the Citroen crashed into a tree, killing Daniel Davies, Jonny Day, and Jon 'Tommy' Miller. Cook, familiar with the area, slowed at a junction, then searched the crashed vehicle with a torch without calling for help, and later destroyed his phone to pervert justice.

Admitted to causing death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice. Judge Christine Laing KC noted that the pursuit was driven by determination to recover drug money and highlighted his character based on his actions after the crash, including searching the vehicle while the victims lay dying.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Ryan Evans

Murder

September 13, 2024

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum of 23 years

Ryan Evans murdered Holly Sanchez, a 32-year-old mother-of-five, at his bungalow in Oates Walk, Crawley, West Sussex, on May 13, 2023. She suffered multiple injuries during an abusive and controlling relationship. Neighbours reported incidents of Evans dragging her by the hair through the street and punching her in the face. Despite being on bail with conditions not to contact her, Evans continued his violent behaviour, leading to her death. Police had been called to prior incidents of abuse in March and April 2023.

Found guilty of murder, unlawful wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and controlling and coercive behaviour. He was on police bail at the time of the murder and had denied the allegations.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Anas Al Mustafa

Assisting unlawful migration

September 6, 2024

Sentence: 10 years imprisonment

Anas Al Mustafa trafficked seven people, including six men and one woman, in a concealed compartment of a specially-adapted van from Dieppe, France, to Newhaven, East Sussex, on February 16, 2024. The migrants were deprived of oxygen and water, leading to severe conditions such as dehydration, a possible heart attack, acute kidney injury, and a stroke for one man. They were discovered screaming for help during the ferry journey, prompting an emergency response. Crew members used an axe to free them from the compartment, which was extremely narrow and forced them to stand without movement.

Convicted of assisting unlawful migration. Pleaded not guilty and claimed ignorance of the migrants in the van. Judge Christine Laing KC ordered forfeiture of the van, telephone, and SIM card, and commented on the risks to national safety and exploitation of desperate people.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Jack Reeder

Robbery

July 22, 2024

Sentence: 2 years and 10 months imprisonment

On May 10, Jack Reeder, while heavily intoxicated, entered a shop in Shoreham and stole a packet of crisps. He then entered a Co-op store in Ham Road, demanded money from the till, and threatened a shop worker with a hammer before running away. Witnesses saw him eating breakfast in a nearby café and removing the hammer from a sock, after which he left the area via bus. He was later identified by witnesses and handed himself in following a public appeal.

Pleaded guilty to robbery and theft from a shop. He was heavily intoxicated at the time of the offence.

Sources: theargus.co.uk

James Wadhawan

Engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 and child abduction

July 1, 2024

Sentence: 10 years imprisonment

James Wadhawan, 35, of Penalverne Crescent in Penzance, was issued a Child Abduction Warning Notice in January 2024 following reports of inappropriate contact with a teenage girl. On March 9, 2024, he was seen with the victim in Lancing and arrested. He was released on bail with strict conditions but was found with the girl again on March 13, 2024, on a bridge in Lancing, leading to his arrest. He was charged with two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 and one count of child abduction, and remanded in custody.

Pleaded guilty to all charges. Given an indefinite restraining order against the victim and required to be a registered sex offender for life. Detective Chief Inspector Mehdi Fallahi described him as a predatory offender.

Sources: theargus.co.uk

Oliver Mcdonald

Strangulation and Assault

June 25, 2024

Sentence: 2 years and 9 months imprisonment, 10-year restraining order, and £228 surcharge

On September 3, 2023, the victim informed Oliver McDonald that she wanted to end their relationship due to his aggressive behaviour over the previous six months. The following day, as she was collecting her belongings from their shared residence in Eastbourne, McDonald approached her, became violent, strangled, punched, and kicked her, and took her mobile phone. She managed to escape, drove to a local police station to report the incident, and McDonald followed her there, leading to his arrest.

Initially pleaded not guilty but changed to guilty on all counts. PC Daniel Turk highlighted the severity of the offender's actions and the victim's bravery and cooperation.

Sources: theargus.co.uk

James Farmer

Rape

June 4, 2024

Sentence: six years imprisonment

James Farmer, 30, of Spracklands in Dinton, near Salisbury, targeted a vulnerable young woman while she was asleep at a property in East Sussex on May 8, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. He had consumed a cocktail of alcohol and drugs before raping her. The victim woke up during the attack, and Farmer told her not to report it, then fled when confronted, evading police. He turned himself in the next day but denied the crime initially. The attack left the victim with ongoing trauma, including nightmares, anxiety, and a loss of dignity and safety.

Pleaded guilty to rape after initially denying it. Had previous convictions for battery and drugs-related offences. Judge Mark van der Zwart noted his troubling childhood, risk to young women, and that he did not fully accept his actions. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining order were imposed, and he was placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Sources: salisburyjournal.co.uk

Ian Elliott

Rape

May 16, 2024

Sentence: 27 years imprisonment

Ian Elliott, a 71-year-old serial sex offender, admitted to carrying out a campaign of rape and other offences against four vulnerable men. He plied his victims with alcohol and/or drugs to facilitate the crimes, with one victim being raped 11 times. The offences included premeditated abuse of his position in society, and he attempted to pervert the course of justice by trying to destroy evidence. The crimes spanned a period where victims recalled little due to their impaired state.

Pled guilty to 43 offences, including 37 sex offences. No previous convictions. The sentence was increased by the Court of Appeal as it was deemed unduly lenient, with judges noting the premeditated nature of the crimes and abuse of vulnerable victims.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Armin Mehdikhani-Sarvejahani

Murder

May 2, 2024

Sentence: Life imprisonment

Armin Mehdikhani-Sarvejahani stabbed 17-year-old Mustafa Momand with a kitchen knife in broad daylight in central Brighton on October 5, 2023. Mustafa ran away from him before collapsing in the street.

Sentenced for the murder of Mustafa Momand. He was 16 years old at the time of the offence.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Ergest Tarja

Conspiring to supply cocaine

April 25, 2024

Sentence: six years and six months imprisonment

Ergest Tarja, 31, an Albanian national who had been in the UK using false IDs, led a gang that formed part of a complex network supplying around 20 kilograms of cocaine between London and Sussex over a period of two to three years. He used a special EncroChat phone to send and receive encrypted calls and messages to organise the buying and selling of cocaine, including helping to sell 5 kilograms between March 2020 and April 2021. His involvement was uncovered through messages accessed by French Police experts.

Already serving a four-year sentence for other offences. The sentence was later referred to the Court of Appeal and increased to nine years as it was deemed unduly lenient.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Thomas Waeling

Attempted Murder

January 26, 2024

Sentence: 13 years imprisonment and 3 years extended licence, plus 9 months concurrent for possessing a knife

Thomas Waeling, then 17, armed himself with a large knife following an argument with his father and stabbed 50-year-old Sarah Taylor multiple times as she walked home from Lidl in Hastings on May 15, 2023. He had previously told a friend he intended to stab the first person he saw. The incident occurred near Bohemia Road around 8pm, where Ms Taylor sustained life-changing injuries, including severe post-traumatic stress disorder, loss of sensation in 30% of her arm, and inability to play her musical instrument, which was her source of income. Emergency services and members of the public intervened to save her life. Waeling fled the scene, discarded the knife in a public toilet, and asked a friend to burn his clothes.

Found guilty of attempted murder after a trial. Judge Christine Laing KC described the attack as 'utterly senseless' and motivated solely by his bad mood after an argument with his father. The defendant expressed remorse through his defence.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Matthew Taylor

Rape

August 18, 2023

Sentence: 6.5 years imprisonment

Matthew Taylor lured a woman in her 20s, who was new to the town, away from a busy pub to Hastings beach on February 12, 2023, under the pretense of being friendly. Once on the beach, his behaviour changed, and he raped her despite her repeated protests and lack of consent, subjecting her to a traumatic ordeal.

Found guilty after a trial. Added to the Sex Offenders’ Register. Cleared of a second charge of rape. The Crown Prosecution Service described it as an appalling opportunistic attack.

Sources: independent.co.uk

David Mould

Child sex abuse

June 23, 2023

Sentence: 21 years imprisonment with an extended licence of seven years

David Mould, 68, of Seaford, East Sussex, used the dark web under the username 'Globe Trotter' to share stories about sexually abusing children and offer advice to other paedophiles. He made trips to the Philippines and Nepal between April 2018 and May 2019 to sexually abuse and exploit children, targeting young boys in smaller cities and rural areas by offering gifts and money to groom them. Evidence from his digital equipment included chat logs, over 100,000 indecent images of children, and manuals on abusing children and avoiding detection. Three boys in the Philippines are now being safeguarded.

Pleaded guilty to 24 offences largely related to child sex abuse. He was previously convicted in 2000 of making indecent images of children, for which he served four weeks in prison. He has been banned from travelling to 22 countries and must sign the sex offenders register.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Ryan Selby

Dangerous Driving

November 1, 2022

Sentence: 7.5 years imprisonment and 8 years and 3 months driving ban

Ryan Selby was driving at speeds of up to 113mph in a 40mph zone on the A259 in Hastings, East Sussex, overtaking several vehicles before entering a white cross-hatched area and crashing into Oli Paxton, a pedestrian crossing the road. The incident occurred on March 9, 2021, in a residential area near two schools, resulting in Mr. Paxton's death at the scene. Selby was estimated to be driving between 107mph and 113mph and did not brake, showing a complete disregard for road safety.

Pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. Judge Christine Laing KC commented on his flagrant disregard for the rules of the road and the danger to other users.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Monique Moss

Dangerous Driving

October 28, 2022

Sentence: 2 years imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 4 years

Monique Moss stole her friend’s keys and drove a stolen Ford Focus, crashing it into a bus stop in Crawley, West Sussex on July 2, 2022. She was filmed on dashcam abandoning the vehicle sideways in the road and walking away. She was already disqualified from driving and faced charges including dangerous driving, theft of a vehicle, driving while disqualified, being in charge of a vehicle in dangerous circumstances, failing to report a road traffic collision, and driving while uninsured.

Took absolutely no responsibility for her actions, even walking away from the wreckage as if nothing had happened.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Sally Ann Dixon

Indecent Assault

September 8, 2022

Sentence: 20 years imprisonment

Sally Ann Dixon, formerly known as John Stephen Dixon, committed 30 indecent assaults against five girls and two boys between 1989 and 1996. The crimes involved systematic abuse of vulnerable young children through trusted family connections for sexual gratification, with some victims being abused simultaneously. The offences were uncovered in 2019 when one victim reported them, leading to Dixon's conviction.

Convicted of 30 indecent assaults. Also subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely.

Sources: standard.co.uk

Dena Thompson

Deception

August 1, 2000

Sentence: 3 years and 9 months imprisonment

Dena Thompson deceived multiple men through a web of lies, including fabricating stories of wealth from deals with Walt Disney, faking terminal illnesses, and promising a luxurious life in Florida. She conned victims out of money, such as stealing from bank accounts and credit cards, and was involved in fraudulent activities like bigamy and attempting to claim life insurance. Specifically, for the deception charges, she admitted to offences that included conning men financially while maintaining relationships under false pretenses, with incidents dating back to the early 1990s.

Admitted 15 charges of deception. Judge Michael Hyam described her actions as utterly ruthless and without any pity, noting she thought she would benefit financially from a victim's death.

Sources: courtnewsuk.co.uk

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