Locked up in Sussex: Here are some of the criminals jailed in April
As the court systems work their way through a backlog caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, dozens of criminals are sentenced and jailed every month in Sussex.
By John Holden
Published 30th Apr 2021, 15:55 BST
Here are some of those sent to jail during April and the tail-end of March, including several child sex offenders, dangerous drivers and domestic abusers.
9. Maximiliano Pereira, Eastbourne
Maximiliano Pereira, a 25-year-old cleaner from Seaside, Eastbourne, was jailed for more than 13 years for his part in a violent assault in Eastbourne. He was the fourth person to be sentenced for the attack in St James Road on October 8, 2019. The four men, all Portuguese nationals, had chased the victim into a dead end road before brutally attacking him by punching, kicking and stamping on his head repeatedly. Even when a passing fire crew stopped to give the victim first aid, the attackers tried to continue their assault. The violent ordeal left the victim - a 26-year-old Portuguese national - with life-changing injuries. The four suspects left Eastbourne that night and were arrested in Southampton on October 11. They were all later convicted of wounding with intent. Pereira, who had pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury after trial, was sentenced to 13 years and three months’ imprisonment when he appeared in court on Friday, April 9. SUS-210430-154725001
10. Palito Arteaga-Aponte, Crawley
Palito Arteaga-Aponte, of Woolborough Road in Crawley, was found guilty of five counts of assault by beating and one count of grievous bodily harm without intent towards a former partner. He also pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage committed on January 2, 2021. At Lewes Crown Court on April 13, he was sentenced to 25 months in prison and given a restraining order prohibiting him from any contact with his victim. DC Jedrzejewska of Crawley CID said: “Arteaga-Aponte’s abusive behaviour has had a huge impact on the victim but through her courage we were able to get the evidence we needed to enable us to arrest him and secure a prosecution. We supported her through the investigation and the court case, and are pleased justice has been done. The victim now has a measure of protection and reassurance, and is building a new life." SUS-210430-154735001
11. Ruan Soares, Bognor Regis
Twenty-seven-year-old Ruan Soares, of Bursledon Close in Bognor Regis, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury by dangerous driving following a collision that killed one of his friends and seriously injured another. Portsmouth Crown Court heard on Saturday, September 28, 2019, at around 11.30pm, police responded to a collision on the A27 between Fontwell and Tangmere. A white Seat Leon driven by Soares had come off the eastbound carriageway at over 100mph and collided with a tree. Soares and a passenger in the back were seriously injured and sadly, 23-year-old Weverton Alprandi from Bognor Regis was pronounced dead at the scene. Soares had driven on the wrong side of the road, in wet conditions, to overtake a line of cars. He was sentenced to five years for causing death by dangerous driving and three years for causing serious injury by dangerous driving, to run concurrently. He also received a 90 month driving ban. SUS-210430-154745001
12. Simon Hutchinson, Stone Cross
Simon Hutchinson, 53, now of Hailsham Road in Stone Cross, was jailed for 17 years for 14 offences relating to the sexual abuse of a young girl over a number of years. Hutchinson admitted four counts of rape and seven of sexual assault, all on multiple occasions, as well as three offences of possessing indecent images of children. He was sentenced at Hove Crown Court on April 22. Twelve years of his sentence will be spent in custody, with the remaining five on extended prison licence supervision. He will be a registered sex offender for life. Police commended the bravery of his victim for speaking out after such a sustained campaign of abuse. SUS-210430-154522001