Lewes Crown Court Sentencing Results

Elliott Leonard-Diss drove dangerously between Uckfield and Hailsham in the early hours of 28 May 2024, repeatedly overtaking and undertaking. He lost control of a silver Mercedes on the A22 Uckfield bypass, crashed into other vehicles, and ended up in a bush. Police were called to the three-car collision at about 7:15am. He was over the legal alcohol limit (81µg per 100ml breath) and tested positive for cocaine (82µg benzoylecgonine per litre blood).

On 11.55pm on September 6, 2023, Emma Roberts, 43, of Church Street, Reigate, drove a black Jaguar at high speed, reaching 74mph in a 30mph zone, and lost control on the A270 Lewes Road in Brighton. She swerved into a bus shelter, striking a university student in his 20s who was waiting for a bus. The victim suffered life-threatening injuries including a fractured skull, brain bleed, broken spine, and multiple internal injuries, and was in a coma. He required multiple surgeries. Roberts was found to be more than three times over the legal alcohol limit. She pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Georgina Epitropou, 42, and her sister Laura stole high-value perfumes, make-up and other cosmetics from duty-free shops at Gatwick Airport, estimated to be worth at least £80,000, over a 10-month period up to September 2022. They sold the items via online marketplaces or direct to purchasers, making around £40,000. Laura took 21 flights from Gatwick, mainly to Edinburgh, with Georgina joining later. On one occasion, they stole 73 items worth almost £8,000. They were arrested boarding a flight to Belfast from Gatwick with stolen items worth almost £2,000 in their suitcase. The thefts funded their lavish lifestyles, including cosmetic surgery, and were done to order with significant planning.

Laura Epitropou, 45, and her sister Georgina stole high-value perfumes, make-up and other cosmetics from duty-free shops at Gatwick Airport, estimated to be worth at least £80,000, over a 10-month period up to September 2022. They sold the items via online marketplaces or direct to purchasers, making around £40,000. Laura took 21 flights from Gatwick, mainly to Edinburgh, with Georgina joining later. On one occasion, they stole 73 items worth almost £8,000. They were arrested boarding a flight to Belfast from Gatwick with stolen items worth almost £2,000 in their suitcase. The thefts funded their lavish lifestyles, including cosmetic surgery, and were done to order with significant planning.

On 13 November 2023, Alex Reynolds set fire to a maisonette in St Mark's Close, Bexhill, causing significant damage to the property and the roof. Six fire engines attended the blaze. He was arrested and released under investigation. On 19 March 2024, he set fire to an empty industrial building in Theaklen Drive, St Leonards, leading to a fire service call-out with four engines. DNA evidence linked him to the scene, and he was arrested nearby. The arsons occurred a few miles apart, with Reynolds escalating his offending and risking lives.

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.

Nigel Evendon was involved in a UK-wide organised drug supply operation, one of the biggest in Sussex. Police executed a warrant at his address in Eastbourne Road, Halland, near Lewes, on 26 February 2024, seizing 3kg of ketamine, 500g of cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), multiple bags of cannabis, four bags of magic mushrooms, £700 in cash, and various offensive weapons including truncheons, knives, and firearms. The investigation began in 2023, and Evendon was arrested at the property.

Damien O'Hare, 48, of no fixed address, committed 26 shoplifting offences between March and June 2024, predominantly at a Co-op in Dorsten Square, Bewbush, Crawley, as well as a number of other stores. He would enter the store, take goods from shelves, and leave without paying in full view of staff. On some occasions when challenged, he threatened to violently assault a female member of staff. He was already subject to a criminal behaviour order banning him from entering any Co-op store in Sussex. He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates' Court on 10 June 2024.

Laurence Harvey, 65, of Searles View in Horsham, sent £46,467 to people in the Philippines between 2 September 2011 and 9 August 2021 in return for indecent images of children. He communicated directly with children, asking them to perform sexual acts, and in one instance paid a woman for images of a child she claimed was her daughter. He claimed the money was for charitable purposes or for adult online sex acts. He was arrested in May 2022 and devices seized contained sexual images and communications with children. He pleaded guilty to arranging the commission of a child sex offence, possession of an indecent photograph of a child, two counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and two counts of arranging the sexual exploitation of a child under 13.

Kiarash Majidi and Michael Rodgers carried out a series of arson and criminal damage offences across East Sussex in August 2023, smashing windows at multiple properties, setting a car on fire, slashing a swimming pool and causing a basement flood. They were caught after a resident reported them and police found weapons and petrol in their vehicle.

Wade Ian Crosweller, 23, from The Crestway in Hollingdean, Brighton, attacked a 30-year-old man from Hove in Meeting House Lane, Brighton, shortly after midnight on 21 November 2023. He struck the victim several times from behind with a wheel brace, fracturing his skull, causing a serious laceration to his right ear, and various cuts and bruises. The assault was described as a particularly violent attack.

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.

Hafiz Irfan, 44, of Winchester Road, Tilgate, Crawley, used EncroChat handle 'snowtart' to offer supply of 73kg of drugs including cocaine, ketamine, cannabis, amphetamine, and ecstasy during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. He acted as a middleman in a sophisticated operation involving production, supply, and importation of about 800kg of drugs worth millions. Arrested in June 2023 as part of Operation Winehouse by Sussex Police.

Ioannis Melitsis, also known as Yiannis Melitsis, 48, of Hove Park Villas, Hove, used EncroChat handle 'metalica' to offer supply of almost 300kg of drugs including cocaine, ketamine, cannabis, amphetamine, and ecstasy during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. He acted as a middleman in a sophisticated operation involving production, supply, and importation of about 800kg of drugs worth millions. Arrested in June 2023 as part of Operation Winehouse by Sussex Police.

Mitch Moon Mellor, 44, of Warnham Rise, Brighton, used EncroChat handle 'speedyballoon' and later 'easternotter' to arrange the supply of 135kg of drugs including cocaine, ketamine, cannabis, amphetamine, and ecstasy during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. He acted as a middleman in a sophisticated operation involving production, supply, and importation of about 800kg of drugs worth millions. Arrested in June 2023 as part of Operation Winehouse by Sussex Police.

Steven Morley, 45, of Cherry Way, Felbridge, East Grinstead, used EncroChat handle 'incrediblehorse' to offer supply of almost 300kg of drugs including cocaine, ketamine, cannabis, amphetamine, and ecstasy during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. He acted as a middleman in a sophisticated operation involving production, supply, and importation of about 800kg of drugs worth millions, and ran a cannabis production setup. Arrested in October 2024 as part of Operation Winehouse by Sussex Police.

From 2003 to 2011, Patrick Lee, with apparently limited means and no obvious legitimate income, had about £4 million pass through his accounts. A number of transactions were identified as passing through accounts of Lee and the Wakes or accounts operated by them. The court found that the funds transferred represented criminal property.