These are some of the most serious, high profile and prolific offenders, including some despicable sex offences, assaults and thefts.
All information comes either directly from Sussex Police or from our reporters attending court in person.
5. Daniel Shaw, Eastbourne
Daniel Shaw, 39, of Pembury Road in Eastbourne, was spotted by police officers on Sunday, February 21, driving along the A27 near Firle before stopping. Police believed he was involved in drug dealing and a search of his car found a 122g bag of cocaine, 11 wraps of cocaine, a knuckle duster, hammer and two mobile phones. A search of his flat later found nearly £500 in cash, cannabis resin and another 26g of cocaine. The total street value of all the cocaine seized was estimated to be between £12,030 and £15,050. Shaw was charged with possession with intent to supply a class A drug, possession of a class B drug and possession of an offensive weapon. He pleaded not guilty initially and was due to stand trial, however he subsequently entered a guilty plea. He was sentenced to 40 months in prison at Lewes Crown Court on April 20.
6. Dean Ellis, St Leonards
Dean Ellis, 33, of Old Church Road in St Leonards, was jailed for seven years after stabbing a man he met on a night out in Hastings. On November 3, 2018, the victim had been out at a pub in the town centre when he met a group of people including Ellis. Ellis became increasingly jealous of the victim talking with a woman who was also part of the group and was eventually told to go home. In the early hours of the morning, the group went to an address in Battle Road where Ellis stabbed his victim through the hand and in the abdomen, leaving him with life-changing injuries. Ellis pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent and was sentence to seven years' in jail on May 14. He willl also serve an additional three years on extended licence.
7. Dennis Bowie and Alice McElhinney, Bexhill
Dennis Bowie (pictured), 49, of Orchard Road and Alice McElhinney, 33, of Cornwall Road - both in Bexhill, were jailed for admitting sexual offences against a girl. Bowie, who had pleaded guilty to an offence of sexual communication with a child, two offences of sexual activity with a child, and also three offences of making indecent images of children was sentenced to a total of five years and two months. McElhinney had admitted one offence of sexual communication with a child, and two offences of sexual activity with a child. She was sentenced to a total of three years and nine months. Bowie will be a registered sex offender for life and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last indefinitely, severely restricting his access to children and digital devices. McElhinney will also be a registered sex offender for life and was given a SHPO to last indefinitely, severely restricting her access to children.
8. Harry Bennett, St Leonards
Twenty-year-old Harry Bennett, or Quebec Road in St Leonards, was jailed for three years and four months after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Bennett was outside Priory Meadow Shopping Centre at around 10.15pm on June 1, 2020, when he punched a 70-year-old man unconscious and continued to punch him further nine times, before kicking him in the head and leaving. CCTV captured the assault and Bennett was found and arrested in York Gardens. In an interview, he said he was drunk and had taken drugs that day and claimed the victim matched the description of someone who had been involved in an altercation with friends on the seafront earlier that day. This was despite his victim only returning to the town via train minutes before the assault.