A 22-year-old man from Brighton has been jailed for five years after kidnapping a woman in a terrifying ordeal in Hove last summer.
Cameron Boxall was sentenced at Brighton Crown Court on 9 May 2025 following a string of offences including kidnapping, vehicle theft, and possession of cannabis. The court heard how he forced a 20-year-old woman into a stolen black Mini on 5 August 2024, triggering a swift and coordinated investigation by Sussex Police.
The Abduction: Victim Dragged into Stolen Car
The young woman was walking along Church Road, Hove around 5pm when she noticed the Mini parked suspiciously nearby. After the driver — later identified as Boxall — asked for directions, he jumped out, forced her into the passenger seat, and attempted to shut the door. Heroically, she kept her legs outside the vehicle, stopping it from fully closing.
Within minutes and just a short distance down the road, Boxall pushed her out and sped off. Horrified witnesses rushed to help and called police.
Swift Justice: Hundreds of Homes Visited, CCTV and Forensics
Detectives from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team quickly recovered the car, which had been stolen the previous night in Brighton and fitted with false number plates. CCTV footage and mobile phone data placed Boxall at the scene.
Investigators traced Boxall by:
- Reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV
- Visiting over 700 addresses
- Tracing clothing bought prior to the incident
- Analyzing his mobile phone location data
Boxall initially denied the offence, then blamed “associates” during interviews — but the evidence proved overwhelming.
The Sentence: A Dangerous Man Taken Off the Streets
On 31 January 2025, Boxall pleaded guilty to:
- Kidnapping
- Theft of a vehicle
- Theft from a vehicle
- Driving without a licence or insurance
- Making off without payment
- Possession of cannabis
He received a seven-year extended sentence: five years in custody and two years on licence, per UK sentencing guidelines.
Detective Sergeant Jack Sagar said:
“Thanks to the victim’s bravery and our team’s determined work, we secured a conviction and removed a dangerous offender from our streets.”
Public Response and Safety Commitment
Superintendent Petra Lazar, of Brighton & Hove Division, praised the response:
“This case shows our absolute commitment to tackling violence against women. We will not tolerate this behaviour, and will pursue offenders with the full force of the law.”
Online, the community expressed both outrage and admiration. On X (formerly Twitter), one user wrote:
“That poor woman. Thank God she escaped. Five years isn’t nearly enough.”
Another added:
“Big respect to the passers-by who helped her. You’re heroes too.”
Appeal and Support
Sussex Police continues to encourage victims of violence or harassment to come forward. Victim Support is available to anyone affected by this or similar crimes.
To report crime:
Call 101 | Report online at sussex.police.uk
Anonymous tip-off: Crimestoppers 0800 555 111
