Sussex weekly round-up: 25 May - 31 May 2024
Volunteers have restored the iconic hill figure The Long Man of Wilmington
- Published
The story about volunteers repainting The Long Man of Wilmington on the South Downs in East Sussex proved a popular read this week.
A variety of local issues featured on the BBC News website, BBC Radio Sussex and BBC South East Today.
We have picked five stories from the past week in case you missed them.
More than 500 weapons seized in knife crackdown
Operation Sceptre involved police patrols and raising awareness of the dangers of knife crime
More than 500 weapons have been seized during a week-long crackdown on knife crime.
Police conducted engagement activities in schools, universities and city centres across Sussex as part of Operation Sceptre.
Multiple arrests were made and thousands of members of the public were engaged in conversations about knife crime between 13-19 May.
Ch Insp Jim Loader said: “One knife on the street is one too many, and one life impacted by knife crime is one too many.”
Crisis-hit students not being removed - university
Affected students have hand-delivered a letter to university bosses
Overseas students struggling with tuition fees amid a currency crisis in Nigeria have been told they will not be removed from University of Sussex courses.
The Students' Union had revealed 1,009 students were warned in April of possible action to withdraw them from the university if they did not pay by Friday.
On Tuesday, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Kate O’Riordan emailed students to confirm no-one has been or will be removed from courses this academic year due to debt.
It comes as Nigeria and other countries in the Global South experience record inflation and currency devaluation, the union said.
MP 'an inspiration' for young sepsis survivor
Abbie Kitson survived sepsis at the age of 19
A woman who survived sepsis said she was inspired to tell her story after seeing former South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay return to Parliament.
Mr Mackinlay lost his hands and feet to the condition after falling seriously ill in September 2023.
He was given a standing ovation when he returned to the Commons.
Abbie Kitson, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, described him as "an inspiration".
Teen stabbed woman who looked at him, police say
The attack happened at the junction of Church Place and Manor Road
A 17-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to stabbing a woman in Brighton after an argument on the street.
Sussex Police said the 37-year-old victim was walking in Church Place on 25 May when the teenager initially became angered when she looked at him.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
He pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent, plus possession of a bladed article, and was remanded in juvenile detention to await sentencing on 12 June.
Man attempts Pacific Crest Trail for a second time
Piers Ellison will walk from the USA's border with Mexico all the way up to Canada
A West Sussex man will attempt to walk the length of the Pacific Crest Trail for a second time after getting injured while tackling it the first time.
Piers Ellison, from Amberley, will walk 2,650 miles (4,264km) from the USA's border with Mexico all the way up to Canada.
His route will go via California, Oregon and Washington, travelling through deserts, mountains and forests.
Last time Mr Ellison attempted the walk, he was injured after around 900 miles (1,448km) but he said "it has always been in the back of my mind and now is the right time to try it again".
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