Motorist dragged from car during Eastbourne robbery spree

Two men have been jailed after carrying out three violent robberies in Eastbourne in the space of just three hours. Sussex Police said the offences took place on 27 December. At 5.11pm, Aldi in Lottbridge Drive was targeted, with staff assaulted as beer and alcohol were stolen. At 7.20pm, Co-op in Cornfield Road was robbed, […]

Two men have been jailed after carrying out three violent robberies in Eastbourne in the space of just three hours.

Sussex Police said the offences took place on 27 December.

At 5.11pm, Aldi in Lottbridge Drive was targeted, with staff assaulted as beer and alcohol were stolen. At 7.20pm, Co-op in Cornfield Road was robbed, with staff again assaulted.

At 7.48pm, a 50-year-old man was dragged from his car in Lismore Road, assaulted, and robbed of his phone and jacket.

Louis Thornton, 18, and Liam Kerwin, 25, both of no fixed address, were arrested around 8pm the same evening.

The pair admitted the offences at Lewes Crown Court.

Thornton was jailed for two years and eight months. Kerwin was jailed for four years and two months and given a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order, including a year-long electronic tag.

Detective Constable Marcus Cox said the sentences reflected the seriousness of the crimes and warned violence against retail workers would not be tolerated.