2 weeks Ago
Nearly two dozen people were arrested for shoplifting offences in a week-long crackdown. Thousands of pounds worth of suspected stolen clothing was among property retrieved by police as part of a campaign to tackle shoplifting in Sussex. the action also saw a prolific Brighton shoplifter admit stealing hundreds of pounds worth of meat and alcohol and another man jailed for a spate of thefts in Eastbourne.
In Brighton, Noel Sullivan admitted stealing over £330 worth of goods including sweets, biscuits, meat and alcohol from the Co-op in London Road over the space of more than a month. Sussex Police crack down on shoplifting in Lewes (Image: Sussex Police) The 43-year-old of Franklin Road, Brighton, pleaded guilty to nine counts of theft and will be sentenced later this week. More than £2,000 worth of suspected stolen clothing was recovered from a vehicle in the London Road area and five people were arrested and released on bail, pending further enquiries.
In Chichester, Mark Budgen, 45, of Avondale Road in Portsmouth was arrested and charged with two counts of shoplifting from Lakeland in Chichester as well as taking a BMW without the owner’s consent and driving while uninsured. He will appear at Worthing Magistrates Court in November. In Eastbourne, Ioannis Anexiou was arrested and jailed after he pleaded guilty to 12 shoplifting offences, mainly targeting the Co-op in Green Street.
He was jailed for eight months. In total, 23 people were arrested during the week of action. Chris Neilson, Sussex Police’s lead for business crime, said: “We actively supported the national business crime week of action with officers across the force, supported by the business crime team, actively engaging directly with our businesses around reporting, undertaking hot spot patrols and targeting prolific offenders impacting retailers.
“Enforcement activity was part of the approach, with 23 individuals arrested resulting in multiple charges and court appearances. “Working closely with businesses, local authorities and Business Crime Reduction Partnerships across Sussex during the week saw successful intensification activity to disrupt prolific offenders impacting local businesses.”.
