Two Shoplifters Jailed For Robberies In Eastbourne

Two men have been jailed after carrying out a string of robberies in Eastbourne.

The offences took place on 27 December, with police responding to three separate incidents in just a few hours.

At 5.11pm, officers were called to a robbery at Aldi in Lottbridge Drive, where two men stole a pack of beer and a bottle of alcohol and assaulted staff.

Just over two hours later, at 7.20pm, police received a report of another robbery at the Co-op in Cornfield Road. Staff were again assaulted as beer and other items were taken.

At 7.48pm, officers were alerted to a further robbery in Lismore Road. A 50-year-old man was dragged from his car, physically assaulted, and had his phone and jacket stolen.

Following enquiries, officers identified Louis Thornton, 18, and Liam Kerwin, 25, in connection with the offences. Both were located and arrested at around 8pm that same evening.

Thornton was initially arrested on suspicion of robbery, while Kerwin was arrested on suspicion of theft from a shop and assaulting a constable.

Further investigations led to both being rearrested on 28 December in connection with additional offences.

Kerwin was charged with four offences, including two counts of robbery.

Thornton was charged with three offences, including two further counts of robbery.

The pair appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 30 December, where they were remanded in custody.

They later appeared at Lewes Crown Court on 26 January, pleading guilty to all charges.

At a sentencing hearing on 13 February at Lewes Crown Court, Thornton, of no fixed address, was jailed for two years and eight months.

Kerwin, also of no fixed address, was sentenced to four years and two months in prison.

He was additionally handed a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order, which includes a requirement to wear a location monitoring tag for 12 months.

Detective Constable Marcus Cox said retail workers “should be able to carry out their work without threats of violence and physical assault”.

He added:

“We recognise the impact these incidents can have on businesses, employees and on local communities.

“We will pursue the most robust course of justice to hold offenders accountable and are working closely with retailers and partners across Sussex to improve reporting, share intelligence, and make full use of technology to identify, arrest and charge offenders.

“I am pleased to see these sentences reflect the severity of the offences.”