Bexhill men jailed following 'terrifying' attack

A Bexhill man convicted of five offences including robbery, assault and theft has been jailed for eight years.
Reece Ripley and Cameron Skilton. Picture: Sussex PoliceReece Ripley and Cameron Skilton. Picture: Sussex Police
Reece Ripley and Cameron Skilton. Picture: Sussex Police

Cameron Skilton, 22, a labourer of London Road, Bexhill, was sentenced when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday (August 6).

Skilton had previously pleaded guilty to five charges in relation to two separate incidents in the town.

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Police said the first happened on August 18, 2018, when a man was robbed while in his car in Sewell Avenue, Bexhill.

Cameron Skilton. Picture: Sussex PoliceCameron Skilton. Picture: Sussex Police
Cameron Skilton. Picture: Sussex Police

Skilton pleaded guilty to robbery, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison for the robbery and one year for possession of an offensive weapon, to run concurrently, police said. He was given no separate penalty for the criminal damage offence.

According to police, Skilton was also convicted of assault and theft following an attack on a man in Holliers Hill, Bexhill, on May 31, 2020.

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The victim was walking when he noticed a yellow Audi drive past him several times before stopping nearby. Three people then got out of the vehicle and approached the victim before attacking him, punching him repeatedly to the face, police said.

Reece Ripley. Picture: Sussex PoliceReece Ripley. Picture: Sussex Police
Reece Ripley. Picture: Sussex Police

After the suspects left the scene, the victim realised his Apple Air Pods and £250 cash were missing from his pocket, according to police.

The yellow Audi was stopped by police less than an hour later, in Bexhill Road, St Leonards, and the three suspects were arrested.

For the assault and theft, Skilton was sentenced to two years and four months to run concurrently to the robbery sentence, a police spokesman confirmed.

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Reece Ripley, 20, unemployed, of Glovers Lane, Bexhill, pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, police said.

A 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons pleaded guilty to assault and was given a 12-month referral order, police added.

Referring to the incident in May, detective police constable Sam Collyer said: "This was a terrifying and unprovoked attack which left the victim very shaken."