The Argus • 14/03/2025

Firefighters tackle fire in Poundland

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The Argus • 11/03/2025

Tributes pour in for 'wonderful' taxi driver who died in his car

Members of the Brighton and Hove Cab Trade Association have shared a tribute and a GoFundMe has been set up for Ezzat George's family. Ambulances and police cars shut off Boundary Road in Hove on Sunday night (March 9) due to the medical emergency. Emergency services on the scene (Image: Submitted) Sussex Police has since confirmed that a man aged 55 died. A force spokesman said: "Despite the best efforts of paramedics who commenced CPR, the man was sadly pronounced deceased at the s...

The Argus • 10/03/2025

Chinese takeaway owner fined thousands after fire broke out in restaurant

The head of West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said that "it is only through luck" that the fire at the Dragon and Peacock Chinese takeaway in Burgess Hill did not lead to a more "sinister" outcome. Yuting Zhuo was company director of the restaurant in Church Road at the time of the fire, caused by a faulty electrical supply, in September 2023. The 50-year-old was prosecuted over six charges that were brought to court under the Fire Safety Order. At the time of the incident, the fir...

The Argus • 07/03/2025

Former police officer charged over indecent images of children

George Voisey, 23, was arrested on October 24 and following an investigation has been charged with 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. He was not on duty at the time of the alleged offences and was suspended from duty. He has since resigned from the force on March 1. READ MORE: Hove: Man arrested after Portland Road police incident He will appear before Brighton Magistrates’ Cou...

The Argus • 28/02/2025

Pub fire that triggered large-scale emergency response was 'accidental'

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service sent ten fire engines to the incident at Gribble Inn, Oving, near Chichester, on Thursday at 5.38pm. When firefighters arrived, the roof space of the thatched pub was ablaze. A fire service spokeswoman said: "At the height of the incident we had ten fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms at the scene and residents living nearby were urged to keep their doors and windows closed due to the amount of smoke in the area." The fire service also con...

The Argus • 27/02/2025

Former police officer denies 'sexually assaulting woman in alleyway'

Mike Sinden, a former custody officer and father-of-two, has denied sexual assault by penetration. Sinden told a jury they had been flirting and kissing earlier in the evening after drinking shots at a cocktail bar in Eastbourne on March 10, 2022. Sussex Police custody inspector Sinden, 36, denied pinning the woman against a wall in an alleyway and sexually assaulting her. Mr Sinden said they had kissed at a pub on two occasions on the night out. Rachel Beckett for the Crown told...

The Argus • 27/02/2025

Significant fire in pub sparks large-scale fire service response

We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. Please report any comments that break our rules. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can de...

The Argus • 21/02/2025

Cannabis farm discovered in police raid

Police investigating the supply of Class B drugs executed a warrant in Maple Road, Eastbourne, on Wednesday (February 19) at 10am and found a number of cannabis plants. Two of the three men who were arrested have been charged. READ MORE: Emergency police incident in factory in Eastbourne Eljohn Majika, 22, of no fixed address, was charged with cultivating cannabis plants. Klevis Kurtie, 22, of no fixed address, was also charged with cultivating cannabis plants. Both men appea...

The Argus • 20/02/2025

Boss of company that 'plagued' households with cold calls banned

Callum Jones, 39, of Oban Road in St Leonards, was the sole director of Colourcoat Ltd, which specialised in roof cleaning, wall coating and insulation services.  Colourcoat made 969,273 unsolicited marketing calls between August 2019 and April 2020. A total of 452,811 of the nuisance calls were made to people who had opted out of receiving such calls by registering with the Telephone Preference Service.  The company also used false names and made repeated calls which were described...

The Argus • 15/02/2025

Teen dies after car overturns at petrol station

Sussex Police has said that the incident involving a grey Audi A3 occurred at Applegreen petrol station in New Town, Uckfield on Friday (February 14) at 5pm. The public and emergency services performed CPR on the driver, a 17-year-old local boy, though despite their best efforts he was declared deceased at the scene. An 18-year-old young man from Lewes was a passenger, and was reported to be uninjured. Detective sergeant Rosie Newman, of Sussex Police Serious Collision Investigations...

The Argus • 15/02/2025

Man airlifted to hospital after emergency incident

Emergency services were called to an emergency incident on the A22, Highfield Link, near Eastbourne on Friday evening. READ MORE: Three arrests made after Bexhill woman was stabbed to death East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, South East Coast Ambulance and the Coastguard all dispatched units to attend the scene. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said that a man had sustained a leg injury, and that a helicopter was dispatched to take him to a hospital. Emergency services were calle...

The Argus • 15/02/2025

Third person arrested in connection with fatal stabbing of woman

Emergency services were called to Bayencourt South in Bexhill on Wednesday (February 12) at 10pm to a report of a woman who had been stabbed in her address. A 58-year-old woman, now identified as Rita Lambourne, she died at the scene from her injuries. A 39-year-old woman who was arrested on suspicion of murder, and a 32-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, both from Bexhill, have now been released on conditional bail. As a result of further enquiries,...

The Argus • 14/02/2025

Full police statement after shop in Hove cordoned off

Sussex Police said two men were seen removing goods from Hove Vape Shop in Church Road and into a black vehicle, before leaving the scene at around 6am this morning. The force warned there will be a heightened police presence in the area as the investigation continues. A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "We are hoping to identify further key witness and CCTV opportunities, and ask that if you have anything to report, you contact police. "Reports can be made online, or by calling 101 q...

The Argus • 11/02/2025

Man charged with attempted murder and dangerous driving

Emergency services were called to Hazelwood Avenue in Eastbourne at around 1.25pm on Sunday (February 9). A 57-year-old local man was airlifted to hospital for treatment, he is reported to be in a stable condition. David Clark, 58, from Eastbourne has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article and dangerous driving. He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear before Brighton Magistrate Court today (February 11). Officers were still at the sc...

The Argus • 10/02/2025

'Paranoid' man strangled woman and held knife up to her throat

Joshua Crompton, 27, of Bedfordwell Road in Eastbourne, sought to control his victim’s behaviour through manipulation and repeated assaults between 2022 and December 2024. The victim, now a 21-year-old woman, reported the pattern of abuse to police on December 20. She recounted to police the multiple instances of Crompton attempting to control her relationships with her friends and family. She also described his fixated and paranoid behaviour that often led to violence. In March...

The Argus • 06/02/2025

Barber jailed after chasing down and stabbing man with scissors

Adam Pirot, 20, of Roedean Road in Brighton was working in a barbers on Preston Street, Brighton on November 29, 2022, when he launched an attack on a person with scissors following a disagreement. Pirot followed the 24-year-old victim out of the shop armed with the weapon before repeatedly stabbing and slashing him, causing serious injuries including a collapsed lung. Following police searches of addresses linked to Pirot, evidence was located linking him to the crime. READ MORE: Br...

The Argus • 31/01/2025

Pensioner in court accused of terror offence

The 71-year-old appeared at the Old Bailey, London today (January 31) over online comments about Hamas in October 7, 2023. Anthony Greenstein, of Belgrave Place, Brighton, was charged with one count of inviting support for the proscribed organisation. READ MORE: Bognor pensioner recalls moment he was mauled by rottweilers The charge comes after an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing South East officers. Greenstein was told he will face a five-day trial at Kingston Crown C...

The Argus • 30/01/2025

Man 'plagued' Brighton with heroin and crack cocaine

Police responded to reports of drug dealing in the Regency area in Brighton on May 10, 2024. Officers then arrested a 41-year-old man on suspicion of being involved in the supply of Class A drugs.  He was bailed while police conducted further enquiries, and then re-arrested him on September 19. Muhhammed Ahmed, of no fixed address, was then charged on the same day with being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine, possession of a Class A drug, and possession of an offens...

The Argus • 29/01/2025

Police find body in search for woman who went missing three weeks ago

Brigid, whose surname Sussex Police did not provide, was last seen at 9.52am on Monday, January 6, walking along Eastbourne promenade near the Beach Deck in the town. Police have now issued an update to say that a body has been found in Kent as part of the search for the 68-year-old. READ MORE: Boy denies murder in Hailsham graveyard last summer A spokeswoman said: "At this stage, the family of missing Brigid have been informed and we are seeking to confirm the identity of the woman....

The Argus • 29/01/2025

Thousands of pounds worth of drugs and cash found at holiday park

Officers responded to reports of suspicious activity in a caravan at Combe Haven Holiday Park, in St Leonards, on January 20 at 10.25am. When the police arrived at the scene, no one was present within the caravan, however large quantities of cannabis, cocaine and hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash were found. The drugs and cash were seized by officers and initial enquiries undertaken. Arron Aubrey, 31, from Hastings, was arrested and subsequently charged with possession with int...