The Argus • 26/05/2025

House fire sparks major emergency response

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service received a call concerning a fire at a domestic property in Taverner Place, Chichester on Sunday evening at 6.54pm. The fire service said that a Joint Fire Control mobilised five fire engines and an aerial ladder platform to the scene to extinguish the fire. READ MORE: Tributes paid to 'father of paramedic medicine' who saved millions of lives A spokesman said: "Residents living nearby were asked to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke in the...

The Argus • 26/05/2025

Teenager seriously injured after city centre bus crash

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The Argus • 23/05/2025

Identity of teenager who fatally stabbed young man revealed as he is jailed

Rhys Hedges, 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 the 17-year-old not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter following a trial which concluded on March 28. A judge lifted restrictions on the reporting of Hedge's name following his sentencing for manslaughter. The court heard that police were called to Vicarage Field in Hailsham at around 6.20pm on Thursday, August...

The Argus • 22/05/2025

Man jailed for raping, abusing and controlling woman for months

In September last year, a woman in her late teens reported being subjected to repeated violence and controlling behaviour from Reid, since February of that year. Brighton man Zaine Reid, 20, of no fixed address, would control when she could see her friends and family, monitor her on cameras when he wasn’t at home, the police force has said, and threaten to harm himself if she tried to end contact with him. The victim disclosed to the police about being raped and strangled by Reid to the...

The Argus • 22/05/2025

Jewish memorial attacked again

The memorial in Palmeira Square in Hove was reportedly targeted on Wednesday (May 14) at 3.30pm. It was also attacked twice in October 2024. Heidi Bachram, an organiser from the Palmeira Memorial Group, told The Argus that "it’s extremely distressing" to see the memorial damaged again. She said: "There have been over 40 attacks on it including vandalism, theft, and graffiti. Four people have been arrested for committing crimes there. "The abuse has been relentless. Last year just...

The Argus • 21/05/2025

Teenagers charged in connection with machete attack

Emergency services were called to a field in Felpham Way, near to the Southdowns pub, Felpham, at 8.50pm May 16 to a report that a teenager had been assaulted with a machete. Police, paramedics and the air ambulance attended the scene. The victim, a 17-year-old boy from Worthing, was airlifted to hospital but is now in a stable condition, Sussex Police said. Following a search of the area, two boys from Bognor, aged 15 and 17, were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily har...

The Argus • 16/05/2025

Shop owner sold illegal tobacco as well as vapes to underage children

Following an investigation by East Sussex Trading Standards, Lhon Karimi, 29, of Devonshire Road in Hastings, was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, given a £230 fine and ordered to pay £500 costs at Hastings Magistrates Court on April 24. The offences, which took place in 2023 and 2024, concerned illegal tobacco and cigarettes offered for sale as well as underage alcohol and vape sales at Karimi’s shop Delboys in Castle Street in Hastings. East Sussex Trading S...

The Argus • 16/05/2025

Stalker follows influencer to Bali and threatens to rape her in terror ordeal

Rob Keating, 39, of Old Crawley Road, Horsham, was convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court of two offences of stalking involving fear of violence against Alexandra Saper. A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said that Keating first contacted the travel influencer through Instagram in June 2022 before he sent her “constant and concerning messages” that led her to block him. READ MORE: I tried Brighton's first seafood boil restaurant - and it was fishy heaven He then continued to send emails...

The Argus • 16/05/2025

Ex-police officer facing trial for rape charged with 18 further offences

Christopher Mallet, 40, who was a Sussex Police constable based in Horsham, allegedly attacked a woman he met on a dating app when he was off-duty in May 2019. He was charged with two counts of rape and one sexual assault following an investigation by the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Mallet now faces 18 additional charges which allege that he abused his power as an officer to find out personal information about women he came into contact with while on polic...

The Argus • 15/05/2025

Man found not guilty of the rape of woman on beach

Mohammed Adam, 23, from Dorking, Surrey, was charged after police were contacted by a 20-year-old local woman who reported being raped on Brighton beach on October 23. The police force has said that she was supported by specialist officers, while Mr Adam was remanded in custody. READ MORE: Constance Marten calls time on her evidence on her baby girl's death At Lewes Crown Court on May 8, Mr Adam was found not guilty by a jury. He was handed a restraining order on acquittal for fo...

The Argus • 15/05/2025

Police drop investigation into 'suspicious' death of man in flat

Christopher Fox, 41, was confirmed deceased at the flat in Nettleton Court. READ MORE: Constance Marten calls time on her evidence on her baby girl's death A 49-year-old man from Hove was arrested at the time on suspicion of murder and taken into custody. Days later, he was released with no action to be taken. Christopher Fox, 41, was confirmed deceased at the flat in Nettleton Court. READ MORE: Constance Marten calls time on her evidence on her baby girl's death...

The Argus • 15/05/2025

Former police officer admits sending most serious type of child porn on Snapchat

George Voisey, 24, appeared at Lewes Crown Court on May 14 and admitted one count of distributing an indecent image of a child and two counts of making indecent images of a child between June 22 and October 24 2024. The police force has said that the matter was referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct who directed that a local investigation by the force’s Professional Standards Department should be conducted. Voisey was then arrested and suspended from duty. READ MORE: A-...

The Argus • 14/05/2025

Youngsters committing anti-social behaviour is upsetting residents

The riders have been travelling on pavements and causing concern in the Hangleton area. On April 25, Hangleton Primary School in Hove sent out a safeguarding email to parents as a child was reportedly approached by “three youths wearing balaclavas” on their bikes. The safeguarding team message to parents & carers stated: "We are sharing this information so that you can be vigilant in the local area and, if relevant, have a conversation with your child (e.g. they walk to school or go out...

The Argus • 14/05/2025

Constance Marten calls time on her evidence on her baby girl's death

On Tuesday, Judge Mark Lucraft KC told jurors that Marten had decided not to continue with prosecutor Joel Smith KC’s cross-examination. Marten, 37, and Mark Gordon, 50, are on trial charged with the manslaughter of their daughter Victoria who died after they went off-grid and slept in a tent on the South Downs in early 2023. The Old Bailey has heard the couple had wanted to avoid their fifth child being taken into care amid a high-profile police hunt for the missing baby. Last Thurs...

The Argus • 14/05/2025

Shoplifter jailed after stealing from shops just days after getting ban

Mwiya Kamutumwa, known locally as Kush, was banned from a number of shops as part of the order, which was authorised at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on April 15. It followed a string of offences he committed at retail premises across the Chichester district, including Tesco Express, Co-Op, TK Maxx and One Stop. Since then, police received several reports relating to the 24-year-old, who was subsequently charged for multiple offences. This includes an assault charge at Marks and Spencer...

The Argus • 07/05/2025

MPs and planning authority 'appalled' at unauthorised work in National Park

The South Downs National Park Authority said that it had acted “urgently” on Friday (May 2) when heavy machinery was reportedly moved on to the field near Petworth, where a large area of grass was removed. Construction vehicles seen on the site (Image: EDDIE MITCHELL) Chichester District Council planning officers attended at the site on Friday morning to serve a stop notice. A second notice was put on the gate, after the first was ignored and works continued. A septic tank was also s...

The Argus • 06/05/2025

Two men arrested in relation to historic sexual offences at college

Police enquiries are ongoing into a number of reports linked to staff at Hurstpierpoint College between 1970 and 1993. A 60-year-old man from Hillingdon has been arrested on suspicion of buggery of a boy under 16 years of age, in relation to an alleged incident in 1988. A 73-year-old man from Hassocks has been arrested on suspicion of possession of an indecent photograph of a child in relation to an incident in the 1990s. READ MORE: Busy high street partially closed for week The...

The Argus • 06/05/2025

Outrage after unknown group bulldoze field in National Park and start building

The field near Petworth was covered in green grass before the heavy machinery moved in over the bank holiday weekend. They reportedly arrived at the site inside the South Downs National Park on Friday and have received council orders and visits from police. Chichester District Council planning officers are understood to have attended on Friday to serve a Stop notice. A female council worker posted a second notice on the gate to the site as an earlier order to stop work was ignored as...

The Argus • 06/05/2025

Caravans take over site in National Park

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The Argus • 28/04/2025

Mother seeks justice for 'murdered' daughter who drowned in river

Pat Tompkins from Saltdean is still fighting for her daughter Angela Read, who drowned in the Hastings River, New South Wales, in April 2000. Australian police and pathologists in New South Wales believed the 34-year-old killed herself, but Ms Tompkins believes she was murdered. READ MORE: Road blocked as emergency services attend incident Ms Tompkins with one of her grandchildren in 1997 (Image: Supplied) She said: "My daughter would have never taken her own life; I am absolutely co...