Crawley Woman Jailed After Fireworks Display Assaults

A Crawley woman has been jailed for a year after assaulting two women at a fireworks display, as well as committing a series of theft and driving offences.

Monique Moss, 49, of Capricorn Close in Bewbush, admitted two counts of assault by beating, along with a number of other offences.

The assaults happened at Crawley Rugby Club during a fireworks display on 25 October last year.

Moss first pushed one woman during an argument.

When another woman attempted to intervene and calm the situation down, Moss struck her in the face.

The victim later described the incident as frightening and traumatic.

Moss had also been identified in connection with the theft of a parcel from a doorstep in Crawley earlier that month.

Then, on 27 November, police stopped a suspected stolen vehicle on the A23 at Pyecombe.

Moss was driving despite being disqualified and told officers she had used crack cocaine the previous day.

A roadside test indicated the presence of cocaine, but she later refused to provide an evidential blood sample in custody.

More recently, in April this year, Moss stole goods worth £268 from Aldi and Pets at Home at the Betts Way retail park in Crawley.

She also admitted shop theft, theft by finding, driving without insurance and failing to surrender to bail.

Moss was sentenced to a total of 12 months in prison at Crawley Magistrates' Court on 22 July.

She has also been given a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order restricting where she can go and her behaviour around businesses.

The order prevents her from entering Acorn Retail Park and County Oak Retail Park in Crawley, as well as Co-op, Morrisons and Tesco stores across West Sussex.

She is also banned from entering retail premises displaying a Business Crime Reduction Partnership logo, returning to businesses after being asked to leave, or entering premises without the means to pay.

The order also prohibits her from interfering with or loitering around vehicles which do not belong to her.

Inspector Oliver Buckton said Moss has a "significant criminal record" and that her latest offences had caused distress to victims and members of the public, as well as disruption for local businesses.

He said officers were continuing to work with businesses to tackle shoplifting and anti-social behaviour and to identify prolific offenders.

Police also highlighted a previous driving conviction involving Moss, after she crashed a stolen vehicle into a bus stop in Crawley in 2022.