Official records from HM Courts and Tribunals Service have confirmed a series of recent results for defendants from the Chichester area, with hearings taking place at Worthing Magistrates’ Court between 10 September and 22 September 2026.
Following the closure of the Chichester Magistrates’ Court building, cases involving offences committed within the Chichester district or involving local residents are now predominantly handled by the bench in Worthing. Magistrates’ courts remain the cornerstone of the British justice system, presiding over approximately 95% of all criminal cases, including summary offences such as minor assaults, motoring charges, and theft.
Notable Sentencing and Tagging Milestone
Among the significant outcomes during this period was the sentencing of 30-year-old Daryl Hunt. On 18 September 2026, Hunt was fitted with a “Buddi” GPS tracking tag.
The measure followed Hunt’s admission to 13 counts of shop theft across the county. According to Sussex Police, the GPS technology is designed to monitor the movements of prolific offenders and act as a deterrent against further criminal activity. In addition to the tagging, Hunt was issued a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) banning him from various retail premises.
Also appearing before the court during this mid-September session was Hollie Robards, whose case was among the local matters listed for the Chichester area.
The Role of the Magistrates’ Court
While more serious “indictable-only” offences such as robbery or murder are eventually passed to the Crown Court, magistrates deal with the vast majority of cases from start to finish. They have the power to issue fines, community orders, and custodial sentences of up to six months for a single offence, or 12 months for multiple offences.
The results published this week cover a range of procedural states, from initial pleas and remands to final convictions and sentencing. Residents are reminded that court results are public records, intended to provide transparency regarding the administration of justice within the community.