Locked up in Sussex: Here are some of the criminals jailed in May
May was a bumper month for Sussex’s judges, juries and magistrates as the county’s courts worked on a backlog built up during the pandemic.
By John Holden
Published 9th Jun 2021, 16:03 BST
Updated 9th Jun 2021, 16:30 BST
These are some of the most serious, high profile and prolific offenders, including some despicable sex offences, assaults and thefts.
All information comes either directly from Sussex Police or from our reporters attending court in person.
13. Keith Vernon, West Chiltington
Keith Vernon, 72, of Holly Close in West Chiltington, was jailed for running over a 10-year-old cyclist while over the drink-drive limit and driving home with his bike trapped under his car. At around 10.20pm on October 6, his victim was struck from behind by Vernon's car, flipping him over the handlebars and into the road. The car drove over him and while members of the public and the victim's father desperately tried to warn Vernon, he ignored their please. He reversed back over the boy, seriously injuring him, and drove away. The boy sustained a broken collar bone, a fractured vertebrae, a fractured pelvis, a dislocated hip and a burn covering the left side of his face. Police found Vernon's car abandoned, mounted on the kerb, with the bike underneath. A breathalyser found he was more than twice the drink-drive limit. He pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, drink-driving and failing to stop after a road traffic collision.
14. Mark Grindon, Mannings Heath
Mark Grindon, 37, of Swallowfield Close in Mannings Heath, admitted to making 46,986 indecent images of children, some of the most extreme type, and extreme bestial pornography, and for breaching his sex offender notification requirements. In November, 2016, Grindon was first convicted of making indecent images of children and was given a suspended prison sentence, made a registered sex offender and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) restricting his contact with children and computers. But police checks in 2019 found he had been looking at more than 30 girls, aged between 11 and 15, on Instagram, mainly in ballet outfits. As a result of the breach, a search of his home found camera phones, a GoPro camera and a hidden computer tablet, alongside sex toys, girl's leotards and a child sex doll. They also found a camcorder. In December, 2019, he was jailed for 18 months for these breaches of his SHPO and on May 17 this year the sentence was extended by 13 months after the indecent images were found.
15. Nicholas Huggins, Hastings
Nicholas Huggins, 33, of Mount Pleasant Road in Hastings, was jailed after being caught trying to break into a property in Hastings. On March 17, a flat in St Mary's Road was broken into and cash stolen from inside. It wasn't reported to police, but the occupants secured the building. The next day, at around 5.35am, a friend of the occupant was looking after the property when he was woken up by someone shining a light at the door and trying to undo screws. When confronted, Huggins fled the scene by was chased by the friend who detained him in an alleyway. He was charged with attempted burglary with intent to steal and going equipped for burglary and on May 20 was sentenced to 27 months in prison for the attempted burglary and another three months, to run concurrently, for going equipped for burglary.
16. Paul Cunningham, Eastbourne
Paul Cunningham, 43, of Pevensey Road in Eastbourne, was jailed for stabbing a police officer, having admitted charges of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, assault by beating of an emergency worker and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. In the early hours of Monday, September 14, police dealt with an incident in Terminus Road, but were approached by Cunningham as they were about to leave. After engaging with Cunningham, PC Richard Bligh was stabbed in the leg. He dragged himself away and administered his own first aid while two other officers, both barely a year into their careers, tackled Cunningham and detained him until back-up arrived. Cunningham was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on May 26.