These are some of the most serious, high-profile and prolific offenders who were jailed in the final month of 2023.
All information comes directly from Sussex Police.
![A woman has been sentenced after she financially extorted her victims on the streets of Brighton and Hove. Shona Stiles, 36, of no fixed address, was arrested in Hove on November 27 following a string of frauds across the city. Stiles approached her targets and stated she needed cash but was unable to make withdrawals as she didn’t have a bank card. Her act was to emotionally coerce her victims into handing over the money, then pretend to immediately transfer the funds back using a fake banking phoneline and falsified transfer confirmations. She would tell her victims stories to take advantage of their kindness, such as needing money to get a taxi for her child or trying to escape a boyfriend. Following her stories, Stiles would take the victims to cashpoints, where they would withdraw and hand over up to hundreds of pounds, expecting it to be returned electronically shortly after. Stiles appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court on November 29, charged with seven counts of fraud, and one of theft. She pleaded guilty to the charges and has been sentenced to six months in prison.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg1NGU0NzljLWFjNGMtNDM4Mi1hNjFkLTczYTFiZjJlYzU3Yjo1YmYzZjY4My0wM2E3LTQ3MjItYmRkYy0yNDhiMzI2YWExNWU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
9. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in December 2023
A woman has been sentenced after she financially extorted her victims on the streets of Brighton and Hove. Shona Stiles, 36, of no fixed address, was arrested in Hove on November 27 following a string of frauds across the city. Stiles approached her targets and stated she needed cash but was unable to make withdrawals as she didn’t have a bank card. Her act was to emotionally coerce her victims into handing over the money, then pretend to immediately transfer the funds back using a fake banking phoneline and falsified transfer confirmations. She would tell her victims stories to take advantage of their kindness, such as needing money to get a taxi for her child or trying to escape a boyfriend. Following her stories, Stiles would take the victims to cashpoints, where they would withdraw and hand over up to hundreds of pounds, expecting it to be returned electronically shortly after. Stiles appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court on November 29, charged with seven counts of fraud, and one of theft. She pleaded guilty to the charges and has been sentenced to six months in prison.Photo: Sussex Police
![A man has been jailed for violent offences against police officers in Crawley. Michael Sardes, 25, of Tilgate Way was handed a suspended sentence on 26 July 2023 for four counts of assaulting an emergency worker and common assault in Crawley between June 2022 and March 2023. On 30 November, police were called to a disturbance at an address in Tilgate Way. Sardes was arrested to prevent a Breach of the Peace, and proceeded to behave erratically when in handcuffs. He spat at an officer, and later bit another when at the custody centre. He appeared at Crawley Maigstrates’ Court on Friday, 1 December where he pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, harassment and criminal damage. Sardes was sentenced to a total of 32 weeks imprisonment and was ordered to pay £130 compensation.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmU3ZmRhNzFmLTAyYzYtNDEzNC1hOTcyLWI5ZjY1ZjI1NTc4Yjo2MTRjMTA2My0wYWU5LTQzZWEtYTQ0OS0zYWRhNDE5ZGJlODc=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
10. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in December 2023
A man has been jailed for violent offences against police officers in Crawley. Michael Sardes, 25, of Tilgate Way was handed a suspended sentence on 26 July 2023 for four counts of assaulting an emergency worker and common assault in Crawley between June 2022 and March 2023. On 30 November, police were called to a disturbance at an address in Tilgate Way. Sardes was arrested to prevent a Breach of the Peace, and proceeded to behave erratically when in handcuffs. He spat at an officer, and later bit another when at the custody centre. He appeared at Crawley Maigstrates’ Court on Friday, 1 December where he pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, harassment and criminal damage. Sardes was sentenced to a total of 32 weeks imprisonment and was ordered to pay £130 compensation.Photo: Sussex Police
![A man who played a key role in the supply of Class A drugs from London to Worthing has been jailed for 11 years. Jamie Burrell was found in possession of a firearm, ammunition, cash and approximately 500 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine after police executed a warrant at his address in Vibart Gardens, Lambeth, on 25 October. It followed an investigation into the ‘MP’ County Drug Line, which was found to be supplying crack cocaine and heroin in the Worthing area. The 27-year-old – who has a previous conviction for possession of a firearm and ammunition – was identified as the line holder and he made admissions to this upon his arrest. He was subsequently charged and convicted of the following offences, all of which he pleaded guilty to: being concerned in the supply of a crack cocaine; being concerned in the supply of a heroin; possession with intent to supply crack cocaine; possession with intent to supply heroin; possession of a firearm less than 60cm in total length with a barrel less than 30cm; possession of a firearm when prohibited for life; possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate; possession of ammunition for a firearm when prohibited for life. Burrell appeared before Lewes Crown Court on Friday 15 December, where he was sentenced to a total of 11 years’ imprisonment.](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg1YjUzZGJjLWJmMmUtNGU3ZC1iNWJhLTc1ZmUzMjRiODJlNTo0M2Y1ZjdhMy0zYjRjLTQ2ZDMtYWQzOS1iN2RmNzY5ODkyZjU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
11. Locked up in Sussex: These are some of the criminals jailed in December 2023
A man who played a key role in the supply of Class A drugs from London to Worthing has been jailed for 11 years. Jamie Burrell was found in possession of a firearm, ammunition, cash and approximately 500 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine after police executed a warrant at his address in Vibart Gardens, Lambeth, on 25 October. It followed an investigation into the ‘MP’ County Drug Line, which was found to be supplying crack cocaine and heroin in the Worthing area. The 27-year-old – who has a previous conviction for possession of a firearm and ammunition – was identified as the line holder and he made admissions to this upon his arrest. He was subsequently charged and convicted of the following offences, all of which he pleaded guilty to: being concerned in the supply of a crack cocaine; being concerned in the supply of a heroin; possession with intent to supply crack cocaine; possession with intent to supply heroin; possession of a firearm less than 60cm in total length with a barrel less than 30cm; possession of a firearm when prohibited for life; possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate; possession of ammunition for a firearm when prohibited for life. Burrell appeared before Lewes Crown Court on Friday 15 December, where he was sentenced to a total of 11 years’ imprisonment.Photo: Sussex Police