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Nathan Higgins, of no fixed address pleaded guilty at Brighton Crown Court for what the court heard the judge describe as a ‘spree of offences’ that demonstrated the continuation of an ‘appalling record of flouting the law and failing to comply with the terms of previous court orders.’ Higgins received a 56-week prison term for crimes involving breaking into business premises, stealing charity collections, shoplifting, and stealing a valuable bicycle. He has close ties with Hastings, but is also well known across Sussex, with offences on record in other towns, including Eastbourne and Brighton. Previously this year he again appeared at […]

A Hastings man, Stephen Franks, was convicted of 25 counts of shoplifting at Brighton Magistrates Court on 28th October 2022, and bailed for sentencing at Hastings on the 9th December. Franks, of Stonehouse Road, St Leonards, was described in court as having a severe alcohol addiction which had led him to regularly steal wine from a local Co-Op store almost daily throughout much of September and October. The magistrate noted Franks’ previous convictions and prison sentences for similar offences, and made an order that whilst on bail he was to live and sleep at his registered address and attend rehabilitation […]

A prolific Hastings Shoplifter who has already spent time in jail this year for stealing from shops in town was handed a 26-week sentence at Hastings magistrates court after pleading guilty to a series of thefts, plus breaches of the terms of a criminal behaviour order. The court heard how 41-year-old Rona Colvin had failed to attend drug rehabilitation sessions, and had stolen from premises after being asked to leave by store staff – something a previous court hearing had specifically prohibited her from doing. She was charged with five counts of shoplifting over three dates in October 2024 relating […]

A prolific and frequently abusive and threatening shoplifter who targeted stores across East Sussex, and particularly Hastings, has been remanded in custody awaiting Crown Court sentencing after pleading guilty to 60 offences. Sixteen of these were for breaches of previous court orders and two were for common assault, with the remainder being for theft from stores across the area amounting to thousands of pounds over recent months. Christopher Ball, aged 28, of Terrace Road, St Leonards, appeared in Brighton Magistrates court on 2nd October 2024 and pleaded guilty to all charges. He admitted to having big problems with drug addiction […]

The summer might not be what we’ve hoped for up until now, but the Hastings’ Police’s annual ‘Operation Sunshine’ has been in full swing for the last two weeks. The operation takes place during July and August every year and aims to keep Hastings town centre as free as possible of crime and anti-social behaviour during the daytime so that shoppers and tourists can enjoy the area. Supported by the Safer Hastings Partnership, Hastings Business Crime Reduction Partnership, and Love Hastings, the increased patrols make a real difference, and in just the first two weeks have seen police officers speak […]

A prolific shoplifter has been jailed just days after he was arrested for multiple offences in Bexhill. Chris Ball was taken into custody on 29 April having been identified in connection with a string of offences at stores in the town. He brazenly walked into premises with his hood up and took items including wine, meat, chocolate, washing detergent, dishwasher tablets, cheese, candles and cakes. He filled up his own bags and even shopping baskets with goods, before making off without any attempt to pay for the items, which totalled hundreds of pounds. Ball targeted the following stores between 14 […]

A prolific shoplifter has been jailed for more than two years following a number of shoplifting incidents in East Sussex. Aron Croft was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment when he appeared before Lewes Crown Court on 18 April. Croft pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary, two counts of shoplifting and one count of using threatening behaviour to cause distress when he appeared before court on 21 September. The court heard that in 2023, Croft went on a shoplifting spree in Kent and East Sussex. On 8 February 2023, Croft entered the Co-op in Cranbrook, Kent and stole spirits worth […]

A prolific shoplifter has been banned from a string of high street stores after running away with food, toiletries and clothes. Samantha Clarke has been banned from Primark, Greggs, Boots and Kokoro following the thefts in Hastings. On Friday, November 24, Clarke stole £89 worth of clothes and other goods from Primark in Priory Meadow, Hastings. Four days later she stole toiletries worth £237 from Boots, also in Priory Meadow. Just over two weeks later on December 12 Clarke returned and stole more toiletries, worth £205. Clarke appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on March 1. She was also accused of stealing […]

With the opening of a new police hub in the town centre this week, police have outlined their plans for tackling crime such as shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Richard Breeze said: “The main priorities are to combat business crime, such as shoplifting, and anti-social behaviour and drug related crime. “Another one is hidden crime, such as human trafficking, exploitation, this could be through very low wages or the sex industry. “There can be a link between dugs and shoplifting and we are looking to directly tackle high profile individuals, really concentrating our effort, and we have had […]

Rona Colvin, 40, of St Helens Crescent, repeatedly targeted businesses in the town and was charged with 11 counts of shoplifting and one count of assault for offences between December 23 and February 10, Sussex Police said. At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on February 12, Colvin was sentenced to 14 weeks’ imprisonment having pleaded guilty to all offences, police said. Police added that Colvin targeted Tesco, Marks and Spencer, Primark, and Trespass, and stole more than £1,000 worth of items, including ski jackets and chocolate. On one occasion, she also assaulted a shop manager who tried to prevent her from stealing, […]