Autistic people, their families and professionals are being invited to help West Sussex County Council make a better place for those with lived experiences of autism.

The council has launched a consultation, to gather information about people’s needs and their quality of life.

The findings will help inform a new autism strategy that aims to improve services

The consultation is open until the 16 December. Please see the West Sussex County Council website for more information about the consultation and how to take part.

A prolific drug dealer from Redhill has been jailed after being found guilty of supplying cocaine and Heroine in the Local area

29-year-old, Isaacs Anderson, was sentenced to five years in prison at Guilford Crown Court last Tuesday.

Anderson was arrested in May after officers carried out a warrant at his home address.

A subsequent search uncovered a number of mobile phones, multiple bags of cannabis and a large amount of cash in a shoebox.

A mother from East Grinstead claimed her family is being “penalised” by West Sussex County Council, as her autistic son has not been offered a place at a suitable school.

5-year-old, Max had to stay in nursery for an extra term, but can only remain there for one more term before he must start school.

His parents, Nirvana and Stevie claimed one of them will have to quit their job if Max is not offered a place at a specialist primary school by December.

West Sussex County Council said it was experiencing “significant pressure and demand” but had been “working closely with parents and nurseries” to address challenges.

A volunteer youth worker has been jailed for publishing hundreds of indecent images of children on social media.

Perry Cornish posted explicit content from his computer while at his home address and also while at a youth centre in West Sussex. We have chosen not to disclose the name or location of the centre for safeguarding reasons.

Police became aware of his offending after it was reported by X (formerly Twitter) in December 2021 and January 2022.

The 23-year-old, of Dower Walk, Crawley, was subsequently arrested and a number of his electronic devices were seized. Analysis revealed the children in the images were aged between four and 17 years of age.

He was charged with the following offences:

• Making 86 Category A indecent images of a child;
• Making 56 Category B indecent images of a child;
• Making 21 Category C indecent images of a child;
• Distributing a Category A indecent image of a child;
• Distributing a Category C indecent image of a child.

While the case was going through the judicial process, police received a further report relating to Cornish in April 2024.

He had used an online platform to engage in conversation with users he believed to be under the age of 16 – but the users were in fact undercover police officers.

He was further arrested and charged with the following offences:

• Two counts of intentionally attempting to communicate with a girl who he did not reasonably believe to be 16 or over, and encouraging them to make a sexual communication, for the purpose of sexual gratification;
• Two counts of intentionally attempting to communicate with a girl who he did not reasonably believe to be 13 or over, and encouraging them to watch or look at an image of sexual activity, for the purpose of sexual gratification;
• Intentionally attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child who he did not reasonably believe to be 13 or over, for the purpose of sexual gratification;
• Making two Category A indecent images of a child;
• Making nine Category B indecent images of a child;
• Making 240 Category C indecent images of a child.

Due to the overwhelming evidence presented to him, Cornish pleaded guilty to all offences.

At Lewes Crown Court on 30 September, he was sentenced to a total of 32 months’ imprisonment and given a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Investigating officer, Detectives Sergeant David Rose, said: “This case demonstrates that we continue to take offences of this nature extremely seriously, and anyone found guilty of committing such offences can expect to be dealt with robustly.

“While there is nothing to suggest any of the children in the images were known or connected to the defendant in any way, the content is deeply distressing.

“We would always encourage anyone who is a victim of a sexual offence, or anyone who knows of someone who is at risk, to contact us. Know that your voice will be heard.”

An analysis by the BBC has showed Surrey County Council is facing a black hole of nearly £152 million pounds over the next two financial years.

Surrey is also among 10 local authorities in England set to make the most savings in the 2024-25 financial year.

Rising costs on services such as road repairs, and adult social care are putting a financial strain on the council who are looking to save just under £54 million pounds.

Conservative Surrey County Council leader, Tim Oliver, says he is “realistic that there isn’t going to be a magic money tree” and that local government will not get “significant sums”.

Local government minister Jim McMahon says the government will work “hand-in-hand with councils by moving towards multi-year funding settlements to provide long-term stability.