Latest Offenders West Sussex

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In July, 2022, police received a report from Social Services that the victim had been sexually abused by Steven Smith in June of that year.

The victim and his family, who were known to Smith, were supported by specialist officers while an investigation was launched.

At the time of the report, Smith was already subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) relating to a conviction for child sex offences in 2017. The order prohibited Smith from having contact with male children under 18.

Smith, 28, of Lower Street in Pulborough, was arrested and charged with rape of a male child under 13, attempted rape of a boy under 13, sexual assault by touching of a boy under 13, and breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

At Lewes Crown Court on 21 August, 2024, Smith pleaded not guilty to all charges, but later admitted the breach of the SHPO.

He was convicted of the remaining offences following a trial, and at Lewes Crown Court on Monday, 3 November, he was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in prison.
Smith was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will remain a registered sex offender for life.

Detective Inspector Harry Doyle said:

“The child involved has shown immense bravery in coming forward to report this horrific abuse. Their courage, and the support shown by their family, have been vital throughout this process, which I know has been extremely challenging.

“Smith’s actions were appalling and represent a profound breach of trust. Such crimes cause lasting harm and have no place in our society.

“He will now spend a significant period behind bars, where he can no longer pose any threat to children or the wider public.

“We take all reports of abuse extremely seriously. If you believe you may be a victim, or know someone who might be, please come forward. We will listen, and we will support you.”

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A registered sex offender has been jailed after police discovered him sleeping in a van with an underage girl.

Brandon Slater – who has an interim Sexual Risk Order – was outstanding for a court warrant, therefore police made enquiries to locate him.

At about 11.30pm on 5 September, officers from the Specialist Enforcement Unit (SEU) attended Chesswood Road in Worthing, where a Ford Transit van was discovered.

Despite repeated calls to make himself known and exit the vehicle, Slater refused.

Officers therefore began to force their way into the van, at which point Slater opened the rear doors, jumped down and sprinted away from the scene.

But his efforts were short-lived, as SEU officers equipped with Tasers and a Police Dog detained him within a matter of seconds.

Slater, 19, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with two counts of breaching a Sexual Risk Order.

Specifically, the order prohibits him from contacting any female under the age of 18.

Slater pleaded guilty to both offences at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 14 October, where he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

Sergeant Tom Mills, of the Specialist Enforcement Unit, said:

“This case demonstrates that our officers are multi-skilled to respond to a variety of incidents and in this instance, they helped to remove a registered sex offender from the streets.

“He was found to be in the company of a 17-year-old girl – who was not aware of his interim order – and she was given the appropriate safeguarding advice.”

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A man who was sentenced for the rape of three vulnerable teenage girls in West Sussex can now be revealed.

Sahil Ali used social media to contact the girls, using violence and threats to rape and sexually abuse them between 2022 and 2024.

The offences were often committed in his car, where he would overpower the vulnerable girls.

The 21-year-old stood trial and was found guilty at Lewes Crown Court on 6 March this year for seven counts of rape, one count of intentional strangulation, and one count of sexual assault by penetration.

Ali, a British national, formerly of an address in West Sussex, was sentenced to 18 years in prison, with a further five years added on licence for dangerousness.

This means he will not be released automatically half way through serving his sentence, but must serve a minimum of two thirds of his sentence before he can be considered for parole.

He was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his access to children and computer equipment, was also imposed until further order.

The sentencing hearing was made on 26 June at Lewes Crown Court and initial reporting of the case outcome was delayed for legal reasons, but can now be revealed.

Following the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Andrew Harbour said: “Ali preyed on vulnerable teenage girls, making demands on them and using violence to make them comply.

“The case has had a profound impact on the three victims, and I commend them for their courage to come forward and report their experiences to the police.

“We take reports of rape and sexual assault extremely seriously, and encourage anyone impacted by these offences to come forward to us and report what has happened.

“After a trial, Ali was found guilty of the offences, and he is now serving a significant custodial sentence.”

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A man from Lancing has been jailed for stalking a woman and then raping her teenage relative.

James Green, 37, of Brighton Road in Lancing, subjected a woman in her 30s to a sustained campaign of stalking and harassment for over a year.

He destroyed her property, covering her clothes and bedding with bleach and stealing her jewellery, before moving into a property very near to the victim’s house.

Green also damaged the woman’s car, stuck offensive posters to her garden fence and tried to encourage her teenage relative, his second victim, to steal her phone for him.

Green’s contact with the young relative continued and he began grooming the girl, sending her sexual messages while claiming to be part of a gang.

In August 2023, Green raped the girl in his home – this was reported to police, and he was arrested.

While on bail, despite having conditions not to contact the girl, he continued to do so, intercepting her in the street and giving her a phone to use to contact him.

Over four months, Green made more than 1,600 calls and messages to the girl, sending her sexual videos of himself, encouraging her to take her own life and to give a false statement to police claiming the rape had not happened. If she refused, he threatened her with repercussions from his fictional gang.

In December 2024, Sussex Police secured charges against Green, and he was remanded in custody.

He faced trial at Lewes Crown Court and, on Tuesday, 24 June, was found guilty of rape of a girl, two counts of sexual communication with a child, stalking involving serious alarm and distress, two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act, criminal damage, theft, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and perverting the course of justice.

At the same court on Thursday, 11 September, he was sentenced to 18 years, with 12 to be spent in custody and six on extended licence. He was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life and restraining orders against both victims.

Detective Inspector Harry Doyle said: “James Green subjected both of the victims to the most appalling ordeals.

"I would like to thank them both for the incredible courage and resolve they have shown to support this investigation and help put a dangerous man behind bars.

“I also commend the investigative team for their diligent work in bringing Green to justice and supporting the victims throughout.”

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A man has been jailed after exposing himself at Bognor beach.

Olegas Podolianko, 53, was seen by witnesses near a children’s play area.

He exposed himself and was challenged by parents before later being arrested by police.

The 53-year-old admitted exposure and appeared for sentencing at Portsmouth Crown Court on September 26.

He was jailed for six months, and will be a registered sex offender for seven years.

The court was told how the incident happened on 27 April this year.

Witnesses described seeing Podolianko, formerly of Elmer Road, Middleton-on-Sea, exposing himself.

He was near a children’s play area at Bognor beach, and was confronted.

Speaking after the case, Arun District Commander William Keating-Jones said:

“This was a distressing incident seen by parents with their children.

“We take reports of exposure extremely seriously, and Podolianko was arrested soon after the matter was reported to us.

“We are pleased that this offender is now serving a custodial sentence.”

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A former police officer has been spared jail after admitting he downloaded a video featuring children as young as nine being sexually abused.

George Voisey was branded "a disgrace" at Lewes Crown Court on Friday after he admitted downloading the Category A footage, the most serious classification for that type of material.

The 24-year-old, from Horsham, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

He will also be on the sex offenders' register for seven years and will have to attend 20 rehabilitation days and put in 150 hours of unpaid work.

Voisey had admitted downloading one Cat A video and two counts of downloading indecent images between 22 June and 24 October last year.

He was arrested and suspended from duty after Sussex Police were alerted to his activity by the National Crime Agency in October.

Investigators found five Category B indecent images and seven Category C indecent images of children on his mobile phone.

Voisey had downloaded the Category A video from the Telegram app and sent it to himself on Snapchat.

He was not on duty at the time of the offences and resigned from the force on 1 March this year.

Judge Stephen Mooney told Voisey:

"Up until now you were of good character and had a promising career, all of which you have thrown away.

"You have chosen to seek out images and a video of children being abused.

"Each image or video you look at is a permanent record of a child's life that has been ruined.

"Each is a child in torment and you have contributed to that.

"You are a disgrace."

Sussex Police has referred its investigation to the Independent Office of Police Conduct and will now consider misconduct proceedings against Voisey.

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A man has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for sexual offences involving children online.

Michael Dyos, of College Road, Southwater, West Sussex was jailed for a total of two years and six months on Monday (17/3) following a hearing at Lewes Crown Court.

The 59-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of arranging/facilitating the offence of causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

On 8 July last year, Dyos drove from Southwater, near Horsham, to Littlehampton to meet with a person who he thought was a 13-year-old child, having previously been involved in an online chat of a sexual nature with this person.

When he arrived in Littlehampton he was met by police officers and arrested. He was then charged on 9 July.

Dyos’s Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which was in place before the commission of these offences, remains in place until April 2031.

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A former West Sussex social worker has been jailed for abusing his position and engaging in sexual communications with vulnerable children.

An investigation was launched on 3 March when sexual messages were found on a vulnerable teenage girl’s Snapchat account between her and a man later identified as Thomas Weller, 33, from Horsham.

The messages were sexual, and continued despite the girl telling Weller she was a child.

Weller also offered to buy her alcohol in exchange for sexual acts.

The investigation also found Weller had used his position to access personal data.

He was arrested on 24 March and further sexual communications were found with another teenage girl on his Snapchat account.

Weller was subsequently charged with two counts of sexual communication with a child and misconduct in public office.

He pleaded guilty to both counts of sexual communications at Lewes Crown Court on 5 July, and admitted the misconduct in public office at the same court on Wednesday, 31 July.

At the same court on Friday (27 September), Weller was jailed for 34 months and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for seven years.

Detective Chief Inspector Jon Gillings: “Thanks to the bravery and support of Weller’s victims and their families, we have been able to bring an extremely disturbing offender to justice.

“Weller held a position of trust, with a duty to protect vulnerable children. His crimes are a betrayal of that responsibility.

“I would again like to thank West Sussex County Council for supporting this investigation and for all involved for their work in catching Weller, putting him behind bars and securing an order that will significantly limit his ability to cause further harm.”

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A Horsham man who repeatedly sent money to people in the Philippines in return for indecent images of children has been jailed.

Laurence Harvey, 65, of Searles View in Horsham, sent £46,467 to a number of people linked to child sexual exploitation between 2 September, 2011, and 9 August, 2021.

He was arrested in May, 2022, and several devices were seized and found to contain sexual images and communications with children.

Harvey would communicate directly with the children and ask them to perform sexual acts, and in one instance sent a woman money in return for indecent images of a child she claimed was her daughter.

He claimed the money was sent for charitable purposes, or to adults he had met on the internet in return for online sex acts.

Harvey was subsequently charged with arranging the commission of a child sex offence, possession of an indecent photograph of a child, two counts making an indecent photograph of a child and two counts of arranging the sexual exploitation of a child under 13.

He pleaded guilty to all charges and, at Lewes Crown Court on 6 August, he was sentenced to 56 months in prison and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order severely restricting his use of digital devices, the internet and travel to the Philippines.

Detective Sergeant David Rose said: “Laurence Harvey is an online predator, who sought out children and vulnerable people to exploit in the most appalling ways.

“The vast sums of money he was willing to spend over a ten-year period point to a committed offender, who showed no regard for the devastating impact of his crimes on these innocent children and his families.

“This was a complex investigation, but thanks to the hard work of the Online Child Abuse Team we have been able to bring a dangerous individual to justice and put him behind bars where he can cause no further harm to the public.”

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A suspected drug-driver failed to register a new vehicle with police, putting him in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Steven Shevlin was stopped by officers from the Specialist Enforcement Unit (SEU) carrying out proactive patrols near Arundel.

The unit aims to deny criminals the use of the road network.

It followed a request from the Violent Sex Offender Register Team (ViSOR) who police offenders subject to the Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and work with Sussex Police teams to ensure these orders are enforced.

Shevlin had a fraudulent registration mark on his vehicle, and was also found in possession of cannabis and offensive weapons in the form of a baton and a knuckle duster.

The 34-year-old appeared before Lewes Crown Court on May 16 for sentence.

It followed an investigation by officers from Crawley CID to ensure the conviction in court.

Shevlin, formerly of Stoney Lane, Shoreham, admitted breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which was imposed in 2020, requiring him to provide information to police in order to protect the public from the risk of sexual harm.

But he failed to declare the new vehicle he was driving.

He also admitted possession of cannabis, fraudulent use of a vehicle registration mark, failing to provide a specimen of blood for analysis when suspected of drug-driving, possession of offensive weapons, and driving without valid insurance.

Shevlin was sentenced to a total of 50 weeks in prison for the offences and was given a further three-year driving disqualification.

Drug-driving is one of the fatal five factors that lead to people being killed or seriously injured on our roads.

The court was told how the SEU carried out patrols in Arundel on November 23 last year.

Shevlin was stopped while driving a Ford Transit van, he provided a positive roadside DrugWipe test for cannabis, but refused to provide a sample of blood when he was taken to custody.

SEU Inspector Ollie Pullen said: “Through regular proactive patrols we disrupt criminals using our road network, while also catching intoxicated or disqualified drivers to help keep people safe on our roads.

“In this case, we found Shevlin in a vehicle which he was required to register with the police, but had failed to do so.

“I’m pleased that our officers caught an offender who has tried to evade police and evade his responsibilities under the Sexual Harm Prevention Order to inform the police.

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A Pulborough man who raped and sexually assaulted multiple boys and young men has been jailed.

Ian Elliott, 71, of North Heath near Pulborough, was accused of committing 92 offences against six victims in West Sussex between 1999 and 2021.

Elliott would earn the trust of his victims – who were as young as 16 – and their families.

As a well-known member of the community, Elliott was also the chairman of the local sports association and was involved in local social clubs.

He would then give his victims drugs and alcohol with the intention of stupefying or overpowering them, before subjecting them to rapes and serious sexual assaults.

Many of the attacks were filmed by Elliott himself. Footage was discovered by investigating officers, despite Elliott’s attempts to destroy it, which was used in evidence against him.

He was arrested in September, 2022 and his victims were given specialist support while the investigation continued.

In November, 2022, Elliott was charged and remanded in custody. He was charged with 92 separate offences, including 13 rapes, three attempted rapes, 13 sexual assaults and 20 counts of voyeurism.

At Lewes Crown Court on Thursday, 2 November, 2023, Elliott pleaded guilty to 11 counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, 17 counts of voyeurism, eight sexual assaults, four counts of possession of Class A, B and C drugs, one count of causing actual bodily harm and one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The guilty pleas related to four victims, aged between 16 and 28 at the time of the offences.

An additional 38 charges will lie on file, and 11 were not put forward by the Crown Prosecution Service but are covered by the sentencing powers given through the other convictions.

At Hove Crown Court on Thursday (22 February), Elliott was sentenced to 18 years in prison, with an additional five years to be spent on licence.

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be a registered sex offender for life.

Passing sentence, HHJ Gold said Elliott had an 'innate sense of superiority' over his victims and had shown 'not a trace of empathy'. 

HHJ Gold listed Elliott's significant degree of planning, use of intoxicants, betrayal of trust, recording of the offending and attempts to destroy the evidence as aggravating factors, concluding Elliott passed the threshold for dangerousness.

In a statement given to Sussex Police, one of Elliott's victims said: “Mr Elliott is now in prison because a couple of brave men decided to speak up. If I’ve learned one thing from this case, it’s to go with your instincts and don’t be afraid to speak up if you think abuse is happening.

"Whatever the outcome or however long the outcome takes, don’t let your abuser win. Pick up the phone and report them to the police or at the very least don’t keep it to yourself and tell someone.”

Detective Constable Victoria Ashworth Kirkby, of the Sussex Police’s Complex Abuse Unit, said: “I cannot commend each of these victims enough for the incredible courage and determination they have shown.

“They deserve immense credit for their strength and resilience, which was crucial in achieving this conviction. I would like to thank them for their support and perseverance throughout this investigation.

“Elliott has been convicted for his crimes but we believe he may have more victims. If you believe you or someone you know may be a victim, please report to us online or via 101, quoting Operation Ridge. You will be believed and supported and we will investigate.

“You can also report offences to Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111 or via their website www.crimestoppers-uk.org.”

Detective Superintendent Miles Ockwell, head of Sussex Police’s Safeguarding Investigations Units, said: “Today’s sentence means that Ian Elliott will spend a significant amount of the rest of his life in prison.

"This is the only appropriate outcome given the multiple lives he has ruined as a result of his relentless campaign of sexual abuse, hidden behind the façade of a trustworthy pillar of his local community.

"I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the bravery of Elliott’s victims who came forward to help us bring him to justice. They will live with the effects of the horrendous abuse they have suffered for the rest of their lives.

"Today, Elliott had the chance to show genuine remorse to his victims in court. Instead, through his Counsel, despite saying that he acknowledges the harm he has done he sought to pass the blame from himself onto them. Elliott is not sorry for what he did – he is just sorry that he got caught.

"Despite a wide-ranging, complex police investigation, we cannot be sure that there are not other unidentified victims of abuse perpetrated by Elliott and I would encourage anyone who does think that they have been a victim to contact police.”

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Sussex Police said former maintenance engineer Daniel Williams, 51, ‘preyed on a young girl in his care’ as a scouts leader in Sussex.

“At Lewes Crown Court on October 9, he appeared for sentencing after admitting assaulting the child by penetration at an earlier hearing,” a police spokesperson added.

Williams – formerly of an address in Hassocks – was a scout leader for more than ten years and ‘committed the offence while acting in this role’, police said.

The spokesperson added: “He also admitted three counts of possessing indecent images of children.

“The court sentenced Williams to a term of five years in prison and an additional year on licence to make a six year sentence in total.

“It means Williams will not be automatically released half way through his sentence.”

Williams was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his access to children, and will be a registered sex offender for life.

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Dan Griffiths from the Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: “The victim in this case showed tremendous courage to come forward and report what had happened.

“She and her family received support from specially-trained officers.

“Daniel Williams is a dangerous offender who used his trusted position to enable his offending. He has abused that trust in the most abhorrent manner.

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A man has been jailed for a string of historic sex offences against a young boy which left his victim “frightened and confused”.

Gary Woolgar, 51, committed the offences on the child and preyed on him over the space of four years, including when he was under 13 years old.

Woolgar, a heating engineer from Lancing, denied the sexual offences but was found guilty at trial.

He also admitted to being in possession of cocaine and cannabis.

Sussex Police Detective Constable Katherine Wilkins said: “This was a complex investigation that involved working closely with partner agencies.

“Woolgar preyed on the boy, and the abuse has had an ongoing impact upon him.

“I would like to thank the victim who showed great courage to come forward and report what happened to him, and to all the witnesses who provided evidence to ensure this offender was convicted.

“This case demonstrates that we take reports of sexual offences seriously and throughout we provided support to the victim with specially-trained officers.

“We are determined to get justice for victims of sexual abuse.”

Woolgar was found guilty of multiple counts of engaging in penetrative and non-penetrative sexual activity with a boy as well as two counts of sexual activity with a child and sexual assault by touching a boy under 13.

The crimes took place between 2013 and 2017.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, described how the abuse left him frightened and confused and continues to impact his anxiety and stress.

At a hearing on August 3, Woolgar was jailed for 15 years. He will also be a registered sex offender for life and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed.

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A man who plied a 12-year-old with wine and raped her has been jailed.

Brian Hoad, 66, first attacked the girl in the 1980s and repeatedly raped her over further four years -including when other family members were in the house.

The woman reported the “abhorrent” and “detestable” abuse years later, Hoad was found guilty of four counts of raping a girl under 16 and two counts of sexual assault on a girl under 16.

The abuse was reported to Sussex Police in June, 2021, and Hoad was arrested the following day.

He was subsequently charged and found guilty at trial of all six counts.

Sussex Police have now praised his victim’s courage to come forward and report the crime.

Detective Constable Emily Turner said: “Brian Hoad abused his position of trust and responsibility in the most abhorrent ways, robbing his innocent victim of a normal childhood through his own depraved actions.

“His detestable crimes have had a long-lasting impact, but thanks to her bravery in coming forward he will now spend a significant part of the rest of his life in prison.

“The courage to confront her accuser, support the investigation to prosecution and help bring him to justice cannot be overstated. I would like to personally thank her.

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A sex offender has been convicted after he failed to notify police of his travel plans.

As a condition of his sexual harm prevention order, Gary Ahearne, a registered sex offender, was required to tell police about his whereabouts.

But on May 17 last year Ahearne travelled from Luton Airport to Poland but failed to notify police of his intended travel.

The 43-year-old, of no fixed address, was subsequently charged with failure to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders register.

He pleaded guilty to the offence and at Lewes Crown Court on May 14, he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

PC Mat Wyatt said: “These conditions are put in place for a reason. They are designed to protect the public from harm and to prevent those individuals subject to the conditions from further offending.

“This case should serve as a reminder that these are extremely serious offences which should not be taken lightly.”