Here are some of the most high profile sentencings, from late July through August, including a bomb hoax in Hailsham, an armed robbery with a meat cleaver and some harrowing accounts of sexual assaults made public by their extremely courageous victims. All information is from our reporters attending court in person or official Sussex Police spokesmen.
13. Peraslingam Nanthvavaraman
Peraslingam Nanthvavaraman, 40, of Sheppard Way, Portslade, was jailed for eight years on August 7 after pleading guilty to rape and assault causing actual bodily harm after a 'horrific ordeal'. Police said officers were called to the Wimpy restaurant where he worked in Boundary Road on Sunday, March 8, where a woman was found unconscious, partially clothed and bruised. CCTV and the lights had been turned off before the attack. Nanthvavaraman was arrested at the scene and his DNA was found on the victim. SUS-200109-142454001
14. Sam Hewett
31-year-old Sam Hewett, of Renown Gardens in Waterlooville, was jailed for five years on August 4 after robbing a Co-op in The Square, Westbourne with a meat cleaver. Police said a witness saw him put on a balaclava and baseball cap on Sunday, May 24, before climbing over the till and taking £400. He pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article in a public place and was sentenced for a separate chip shop burglary in 2019, barber shop burglary in Havant and four further burglaries. SUS-200109-142514001
15. Toni Deerans
Toni Deerans, of Preston Road in Brighton, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Friday, August 7. The 37-year-old was convicted of eight counts of burglary and four counts of fraud and described by police as a 'prolific burglar'. She was reported to have stolen electronic devices and credit cards in a string of burglaries since August 2019 and repeatedly failed to attend court. SUS-200109-142313001