A man from Crawley has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for child sex offences. 

John Cole was sentenced at Hove Crown Court on Friday after a five day trial. He was found guilty of two offences of rape and four offences of engaging in sexual activity against a 10 year old girl between 2017 and 2018.  

West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said that Cole came to know the young girl over a period of time and systematically abused her, taking advantage of her age and natural vulnerability.  The assaults came to light when her mother found a note in a backpack, revealing she had been assaulted by him.

Cole will be a registered sex offender for life.

A woman with connections to Crawley and Gatwick is thought to be missing in Sussex.

Justyna Greba has not been seen since checking out of a Hotel in Horley since the end of September.

She is described as a white woman of slim build and brown hair who was seen wearing a blue top with grey jeans.

Anyone who has seen her or knows of her whereabouts is urged to call 101.

The first of 1.2 million new trees for Surrey have been  planted at the Surrey Hills Wood Fair.

It was the launch of the Surrey County Council project to plant a new tree for every resident by 2030.

The people who planted the first trees included, Council members Tony Samuels and Tim Oliver .

A young female has been ordered to carry out unpaid work according to a court document.

Jackie Smith from Crawley , pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer in August.

The court made a community order with a requirement of 40 hours of unpaid work and ordered her to pay £100 in compensation

New safeguarding arrangements have come into effect for children in Surrey. 

The new Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership replaces the Surrey Safeguarding Children Board.  The partnership is jointly led by Surrey County Council, Surrey Police, the clinical commissioning groups and NHS providers.  The safeguarding partners will form a new Executive Group for the Partnership joined by representatives from schools and colleges, district and borough councils, and the Office of the Police Crime Commissioner. 

The Partnership will establish and implement a strategic safeguarding children plan for Surrey. There will be a stronger focus on listening to the views of children, young people and families who use the service.