Local Crime

Arrests

Last week saw 14 individuals arrested across the Wealden district.

• One arrest for possession with intent to supply a Class B drug in Hailsham
• Three arrests for assault (including one of an emergency worker) in Uckfield and Arlington
• One individual wanted on recall to prison arrested in Crowborough
• Other offences included harassment, burglary, and failure to appear at court

Don't forget, you can report to us online or by phoning 101 if non urgent – 24/7.
Always call 999 in an emergency.

‍

Teen sentenced for fatal stabbing in Hailsham

A 17-year-old boy who fatally stabbed a man in Hailsham can now be named after a judge lifted reporting restrictions following his sentencing for manslaughter.

Rhys Hedges, 17, from Hellingly, was charged with the murder of 20-year-old Billy Ripley, who died after an altercation in August 2024. A jury at Lewes Crown Court found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter following a trial which concluded on Friday, 28 March.

The court heard that police were called to Vicarage Field in Hailsham at around 6.20pm on Thursday, 29 August 2024, following reports of a man being stabbed.

Billy was found lying in an alleyway near The Hailsham Club with a single stab wound to the chest. Despite the best efforts of paramedics and officers, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses reported seeing the victim sitting on a bench in the town centre when Hedges approached. After a verbal exchange, the pair – who were known to each other – moved into the alleyway where the incident took place.

CCTV footage showed an altercation between the two near the entrance to Hailsham Parish Church. Billy then staggered away, calling out he had been stabbed, before collapsing.

The suspect fled the scene but was quickly identified and arrested at an address in Hailsham later that evening. He was subsequently charged and remanded in custody.

On Friday, 23 May, at Lewes Crown Court, Hedges was sentenced to 8 years in prison minus time served.

Detective Inspector Amanda Zinyama, of Sussex and Surrey Police’s Major Crime Team, said:
“Billy lost his life in the most tragic circumstances, and our thoughts remain with his family, who have shown immense strength through this incredibly difficult time.

“We are grateful to the witnesses who came forward, and to everyone who supported the investigation.

While nothing can bring Billy back, I hope today’s sentencing brings some measure of closure to his loved ones.”

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Loader, Sussex Police’s lead for knife crime and serious violence, said:
“Knife crime has devastating consequences. One life lost is too many.

Sussex remains a safe place, with knife crime rates well below the national average. But even one knife on the streets is too many. Please don’t carry a weapon – it endangers you and others. It's simply not worth the risk.”

‍

Appreciation

'We do this job because we love to help and support our communities'

Last week, a card was hand-delivered to the station for PCSO McDonagh and PCSO Tay.

The message inside read, in part:
"You were both so kind and efficient, helpful and friendly. All your efforts were greatly appreciated – you both deserve ‘gold stars’!"

We aim to go above and beyond for all of those we deal with each day, and it's incredibly rewarding to feel the appreciation for what we do.

What a lovely gesture – thank you for reminding us exactly why we love what we do!

‍

Out and about in Heathfield!

PCSO Tay and PCSO Park are the new dedicated PCSOs for Heathfield and Waldron, so what better way to get to know their town than getting out on foot!

They took the opportunity to drop in on local businesses, introduce themselves, and catch up on local goings-on.

Both officers are looking forward to getting to know their area better, attend local events, and offer reassurance and support to the community.

Do stop and say hello when you see them out and about!

‍

Contact us

For non-emergency incidents or crime prevention advice, visit:
www.sussex.police.uk
(If you report a crime online, we will assess it in the same way as a 101 call.)

Call 101 when you do not require an urgent response.
In an emergency when life is threatened or there is immediate danger, always call 999.

Speak to us face-to-face at a police station or contact the local policing team at:
www.sussex.police.uk/area/your-area

If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, you can contact us using TypeTalk on 18000 or by sending a text to 65999.

Arrests

Last week saw a total of 20 arrests made across the district.
Two drivers were arrested in Hellingly and Frant. One for causing serious injury due to dangerous driving, and the other for failing to provide a specimen for analysis after officers suspected they were over the legal limit.

We arrested an individual for possession with intent to supply class B drugs in Lower Dicker.
Seven arrests were made for assault in Mayfield, Stone Cross, Pevensey Bay, Horam, Willingdon, Polegate and Hailsham.

Other offences included stalking, threat to damage property, intimidating a witness and fraud.

Appeal

We are appealing for witnesses and information after a serious collision near Hailsham.

Emergency services were called to the A267 North Street, shortly after 1pm on Sunday, 11 May.

The collision is believed to have involved three vehicles, a silver Land Rover Discovery, a green Land Rover Discovery, and a Mercedes, between the junctions with the B2104 and Church Lane.

A 27-year-old man from Hellingly sustained serious injuries and remains in hospital. A 28-year-old man from Hailsham was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and has been bailed, pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to report it to us online or email collision.appeal@sussex.police.uk and quote Operation Portree

Community engagement and patrols!

PCSO’S Choppin and Jackson attended the East Hoathly & Halland Parish Council assembly on Monday 12th May.

There were lots of societies, clubs and organisations connected to the parish, all of which invited to attend with stalls to showcase what they do and how you can join them.

Our officers were there to engage with their local communities, offering crime prevention and scam advice as well as provide an open ear for any concerns.

A great day with great community spirit, we were pleased to have been a part of the event!

PCSO Davidson was out on Wednesday morning (14th) patrolling different areas over the south of Wealden.

He visited East Dean - popping into the Village Shop and Market.

Next was Birling Gap, engaging with the National Trust staff and offering support and advice following the large number of tourists visiting the area.

Littlington, Wilmington, Alciston and Selmeston were all patrolled, finishing the morning in Pevensey Bay.

We're pleased to say there was nothing of note to report, and all engagements were positive with many enjoying the weather!

Tackling anti-social behaviour

Officers from our Uckfield hub have linked in with the Wealden Council Housing Team to learn more about anti-social behaviour in the area and what we can do together to prevent it.

We understand that ASB can and does negatively impact communities and can significantly affect residents’ quality of life.

We will take action to address reports of ASB or crimes in progress, and we continue to encourage members of public to continue reporting to us. Your reports help us direct patrols to where they're needed most.

Contact us

For non-emergency incidents or crime prevention advice, click  www.sussex.police.uk,  (If you report a crime online, we will assess it in the same way as a 101 call). 

Call 101 when you do not require an urgent response. In an emergency when life is threatened or there is immediate danger always call 999.  

Speak to us face-to-face at a police station or contact the local policing team at www.sussex.police.uk/area/your-area. 

If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, you can contact us using TypeTalk on 18000 or by sending a text to 65999.

‍

Message Sent By

Ria Robertson

(Police, District Engagement Officer, Neighbourhood Policing Team)

There were a total of 27 arrests made across the district last week.

Three drivers were arrested in Uckfield, Hellingly and Arlington - one for being under the influence of alcohol, and two for drug driving.

We arrested 11 individuals for assault in Uckfield, Hailsham, Crowborough, Horam, Hartfield and Polegate.

There were also 3 arrests made for possession with intent to supply class A drugs in Stone Cross.

Public reports are crucial in helping us keep the streets safe - proven by the drug related offences last week, where significant intelligence came from the public.

Officers attended a car park in Stone Cross on the 24th, after receiving information that drug related offences were taking place in this location.

Upon arrival, officers noticed a distinctive smell and suspicious behaviour from the three men, who were stood by a van that matched the description given to us from the public.

After being detained and searched, a large quantity of cash as well as class A drugs were found and seized - resulting in the three males arrested and taken to custody.

A collaborative effort from both the public and our officers, resulting in the successful prevention of drug related offences in Wealden.

Your reports DO matter. Each report from the public, no matter how small it may seem, could play a crucial part in keeping our streets safe.

‍

Pit bike seized

Officers have seized yet another pit bike after a male had been riding it on a public road with no insurance.

Not only could this cause serious harm to other road users, but the use of these bikes that we've been seeing across the district is extremely anti-social and in this case - illegal.

Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act means we can also seize vehicles if driven carelessly, are unlicensed or for road tax offences.

With Operation Downsway now underway for 2025 - teams across the force will be providing a highly visible and unmarked presence on the roads across Sussex, engaging, educating, and taking enforcement action where necessary.

‍

Hailsham man jailed

A Hailsham man who stole from a vulnerable woman has been jailed for robbery.

Mark Stonestreet, 38, has been sentenced to 3 years and 9 months imprisonment following a hearing at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday, April 22. Stonestreet also received a 10-year restraining order, with conditions not to approach the victim, not to visit North Street in Hailsham and not to enter Asda in Hailsham. This restraining order will remain in effect for 10 years.

The sentencing follows an incident on Saturday, February 8 in Carriers Path, Hailsham, where Stonestreet targeted a 66-year-old woman who was using a disability walker. He snatched her wallet and cash directly out of her hand, fracturing her wrist. Following police enquiries, Stonestreet was subsequently arrested and remanded in custody.

This significant sentence acknowledges the fact that Stonestreet had targeted the same victim on previous occasions.

‍

Supporting businesses in Buxted!

The Buxted small business networking meeting was held on Wednesday 30th April, at the Pig and Butcher in Five Ash Down.

PCSO Choppin attended, along with a new trainee, PCSO Brook, as part of their community engagement duties.

We love having the chance to engage with different sides of the community, and are pleased to have offered support and reassurance to those in attendance!

Thank you for inviting us along!

‍

Stay safe this bank holiday.

Whilst the weather may be cooler over the weekend than we've seen throughout the week, we still want you to remain safe - whatever you're up to.

We will be out and about across the district as usual, so do say hi if you see us around!

Sussex Police are available 24/7, 365 days a week. If you need us, contact us!

Call 101 or online (https://orlo.uk/NKjKx) if non urgent.

Always call 999 in an emergency.

‍

Contact us

For non-emergency incidents or crime prevention advice, click  www.sussex.police.uk,  (If you report a crime online, we will assess it in the same way as a 101 call). 

Call 101 when you do not require an urgent response. In an emergency when life is threatened or there is immediate danger always call 999.  

Speak to us face-to-face at a police station or contact the local policing team at www.sussex.police.uk/area/your-area. 

If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, you can contact us using TypeTalk on 18000 or by sending a text to 65999.

‍

‍

Arrests

A busy week for officers last week, making a total of 19 arrests across the district.

One individual was arrested for supplying class A drugs in Hailsham.

Four arrests were made for assault, one of which was of an emergency worker.

We arrested a driver in Five Ashes who was behind the wheel whilst over the limit for drugs.

Other offences included theft from a shop, burglary, and theft of a motor vehicle.

Patrols continue, as always, throughout Wealden to help protect and secure our communities.

Drug arrests across East Sussex

An investigation into the large-scale supply of illegal drugs led to a further 11 arrests across East Sussex last week.

Sussex Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) previously arrested 13 people suspected of distributing cocaine as part of Operation Bowtie.

And a week of intensification from Monday 24 to Friday 28 February – consisting of nine separate warrants – resulted in the further arrests, plus the seizure of significant quantities of cash, Class A drugs, stolen vehicles and weapons.

Here's the full story

East Sussex drugs warrants lead to 11 arrests | Sussex Police

Does this bike belong to you?

Officers attended the scene of a road traffic collision today in Magham Down.

A bike had collided into the back of a car, resulting in minor traffic delays and debris across the road.

Unfortunately, the rider of the bike made off on foot before we arrived at the scene. We suspect that this may have been due to not having insurance

The bike has since been recovered for forensic analysis, and the road was cleared swiftly to allow the flow of traffic to continue as normal.

East Sussex careers event

Officers of the future?

Today, officers attended a careers event in Eastbourne - joined by various schools across the Eastbourne and Wealden districts.

We love hearing about everyone's career goals and aspirations, and talking them through exactly how to get there.

There is something for everyone within policing, from Detective roles to Police Staff roles, and all with multiple entry routes.

Thanks to everyone who came along today!

Are you worried that a friend or family member is experiencing domestic abuse?

Clare's Law gives you a way to make enquiries about an individual who is in a relationship with someone you know and you are concerned their partner may have a history of domestic abuse.

Signs of domestic abuse usually include at least one of the following:

Emotional abuse

Isolation

Intimidation or threats

Economic abuse

Control

Physical abuse

Sexual abuse

You can make an application under Clare's Law if you are worried about a friend or relatives current or ex-partner. The police will carry out checks and will refer any information to a local multi-agency panel for a decision about whether to make a disclosure.

You can find out more here Clare's Law - Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) | Sussex Police

Contact us

For non-emergency incidents or crime prevention advice, click  www.sussex.police.uk,  (If you report a crime online, we will assess it in the same way as a 101 call). 

Call 101 when you do not require an urgent response. In an emergency when life is threatened or there is immediate danger always call 999.

Speak to us face-to-face at a police station or contact the local policing team at www.sussex.police.uk/area/your-area. 

If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, you can contact us using TypeTalk on 18000 or by sending a text to 65999.

Message Sent By

‍Ria Robertson
(Police, District Engagement Officer, Neighbourhood Policing Team)