A BROADFIELD schoolgirl is being forced to live opposite the paedophile who sexually assaulted her after the Court of Appeal quashed the conditions of an order which prevented him from living in her street.

On top of that, Crawley Borough Council allowed the man to buy his council-rented home from the authority while the case was ongoing, meaning they now cannot move him away from his victim.

The 14-year-old girl, whose identity is protected by law, is now living in fear of bumping into the pervert outside her home and her mum has slammed the council and judicial system for appearing to side with a paedophile.

The 52-year-old attacker, who cannot be named either as it would potentially identify his victim, was convicted in May of sexually assaulting the girl, who was 12 at the time, in August last year by pressing himself against her in his kitchen and touching her bottom and private parts.

The man, who had been a friend of the girl's family for years, was given an eight-month jail term suspended for two years and made to sign onto the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

A sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) was also granted with four conditions. One of these prevented him from entering the Broadfield road in which he and the girl both live.

However, the paedophile took his case to the Court of Appeal on November 13 and a judge lifted three of the four conditions, including the one stopping him from moving back into his home. There was no appeal against the conviction or sentence.

The girl's devastated mother said: "It seems you are better off committing a crime because you get more rights than victims."

The only condition of the SOPO left in place is one which prevents the attacker from having contact with the girl. Speaking about the fact the council allowed the man to buy his house, the girl's mum added: "I'm so angry with the council because I rang them to explain the situation in November last year, when he was first charged with it, but they said they couldn't move him out because the case was ongoing, which I understand. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

"But then I rang them in May when he was convicted and they told me they had sold his house to him in January. Even though they knew what was going on."

Crawley MP Henry Smith has written to the Ministry of Justice and the council to get some answers. He said: "It is concerning a man convicted of a sexual assault on a minor is allowed to move back in [almost] next door to the victim."

Mr Smith also queried why the council did not put the attacker's application to buy his home on hold.

A council spokesman said the authority "sympathised" with the girl but that there were "no grounds" to deny the application, which was submitted in September last year.

He added that the council could not legally put the application on hold.

When the Crawley News contacted the Judicial Communications Office, it was unable to provide the reasons the order's conditions were lifted.

TESCO Extra in Three Bridges will be closing off a section of the store until one minute past midnight tonight, when it will be opened for shoppers to grab some Christmas bargains.

The Black Friday deals are likely to include electrical and white goods, a staff member has told Crawley News, but he was unable to reveal exactly what would be on sale in the special section.

It will be a case of first come, first served and no items can be reserved in advance, so if shoppers want to grab a bargain they will need to get down to the store in Hazelwick Avenue the minute the items go on sale.

POLICE have smashed a ruthless gang of fraudsters who preyed upon elderly people in their own homes across the South East, including two victims in Crawley.

The gang of 13 were sentenced at Hove Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday) and today (Thursday) over a series of frauds worth more than £250,000 during 2011.

Elderly and vulnerable victims in Sussex, Surrey, and South and East London, were conned after being told drains at their homes needed repairing as they were affecting neighbours' properties. The sentencings followed an intensive investigation over many months by detectives from the Sussex Police Economic Crime Unit.

In total 17 victims were defrauded. Two were from Crawley while elsewhere in Sussex there were victims in Brighton, Worthing, Bognor, Horsham, Pulborough, Henfield, Southwick, Lancing and Littlehampton. Other victims were from Romford, Hornchurch, Barking, Sutton, Croydon, Godalming, Orpington and Harrow.

Two of the defendants were found guilty on October 6 after a trial. The other 11 pleaded guilty to various offences at previous hearings.

James Ward, 29, of Twin Willows, Pleshey, Essex, and Wayne Smith, 32, of St Vincents Close, Girton, Cambridge, were the ring leaders.

Detective Inspector Mick Richards said:"The victims were carefully selected and targeted on the basis of their vulnerability. Typically they were elderly householders who lived alone. A man would call at the door claiming that there was a problem with their drains that was affecting adjacent properties. A while later the victim would get a call from someone claiming to be from a drainage company.

"He would describe the problem as serious and requiring urgent action, saying expensive equipment would be needed to do the necessary work and the hire of this equipment required a substantial but returnable deposit.

"He would then ask the victim for a large sum of money on the promise that the work would start very shortly. If the victim did not agree immediately, they would be bombarded with calls. The victims were persuaded by a combination of bullying persistence and tales of the hardship caused to their neighbours. So it was not just their insecurity but also their good nature that was cynically exploited."

Once the first payment had been made, the conman would then bully them into making further payments. In some cases victims lost their entire life savings. The money was then laundered by Jimmy Ward through other associates so that the cash was untraceable.

All telephone contact with the victims was by Smith and all telephone contact with the money launderers was by Ward so that the two conspiracies could be kept separate.

Officers used a mass of phone data from what appeared to be unrelated incidents to build a picture which eventually showed the scale of the criminal operation.

Other would-be victims were targeted for a total of £100,000 but they reported the thefts to police when they became suspicious.

One of the victims, a woman living in Crawley who has asked to remain anonymous, said: "I continue to kick myself for having been so stupid to part with so much money and putting myself in an overdraft situation but the story given by the scammers seemed so genuine that I was taken in. They certainly did a lot of homework to create their case.

"The whole experience has continued to cause me stress, as each time the telephone rings I wonder if it will be the start of another scam rather than looking forward to the prospect of talking to a friend of mine.

"I am constantly wary of unknown callers to the house whether they be on foot or in a car or van. If they have merely taken a wrong turning I wonder if they are having a good look around."

Ward pleaded guilty to two offences of conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was sentenced to a total of eight years. He was also sentenced to prison for burglaries and bail offences to run concurrently with the fraud and money laundering offences.

Smith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was also sentenced to a total of eight years.

Kelly Ann Robinson, 20, of Albany Road, Pilgrims Hatch, Essex, was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering. She was sentenced to two and a half years.

Carly Hodges, 32, of Lucerne Way, Romford, was convicted of money laundering. She was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was given a 12 month supervision order.

Rebecca Clarke, 35, of Thorney Bay Road, Canvey Island, Essex, pleaded Guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. She was sentenced to a total of two years;

Lauren Flanders, 31, of Petersfield Avenue, Romford, Essex, pleaded guilty to two offences of money laundering and one offence of attempted money laundering. She was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment suspended for two years, and was also given a supervision order and ordered to carry out 160 hours unpaid work;

Stacey Robinson, 29, of Philip Close, Pilgrims Hatch, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. She was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment;

Cassandra Knight, 36, of Britannia Road, Warley, Brentwood, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit three offences of money laundering. She was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment suspended for two years, and was given a supervision order for two years;

Kerry Corcoran (female), 29, of Marlow Road, London E6, pleaded guilty to attempted money laundering. She was sentenced to a 12 month community order and ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work;

Ronald Buttery, 46, of Ellen Wilkinson House, Usk Street, London E2, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and attempted money laundering. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years and was ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work;

Terry Phillips, 56, of Wolsey Avenue, London E6, pleaded guilty to one offence of money laundering. He was sentenced to six months for money laundering, suspended for two years, and was ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work;

Daniel Atkins, 30, of Dunedin Road, Rainham, Essex, pleaded guilty to two offences of money laundering. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years and was ordered to carry out 160 hours unpaid work;

Bobby Latham (male), 26, of Turpin Avenue, Romford, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to one offence of money laundering. He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment suspended for two years, and was given a 12-month supervision order and ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work;

Danielle Philpott, 22, of Manor Park, London, E6, who has pleaded guilty to one offence of money laundering, will be sentenced on 22 December.

A MAN who punched his wife in the face in a completely unprovoked attack when he was drunk has been spared jail partly because she wants to give him another chance.

John Fippard started shouting abusive language at his wife at a friend's house before punching her when she asked him to stop being aggressive.

Appearing at Crawley Magistrates' Court today (Thursday) Fippard was handed a community order and told he was lucky not to be jailed. He pleaded guilty to assault by beating at a previous hearing on November 19.

The 59-year-old, of Henderson Way, Horsham, visited a friend with his wife after they had been asked to leave the Lynd Cross pub in Springfield Road, Horsham, at 10pm on October 31, because he had previously been barred.

It was in the early hours of November 1, at a friend's house in Burtons Court, Park Way, that he flew into a rage. David Packer, prosecuting, told the court: "They started listening to music and Mr Fippard became verbally abusive, calling her a f****** bitch. He picked up a small table and threw it in front of his wife…Mrs Fippard told him to stop behaving that way. He then said 'oh f*** it' and punched her in the face with a closed fist beneath her right eye."

The court heard that when Mrs Fippard asked why he hit her, he answered: "Because you're a f****** bitch." She then phoned the police and her husband was arrested.

The court heard Fippard has a previous conviction for battery of his wife, from last year, and his defence solicitor informed magistrates that Mrs Fippard wanted to continue the relationship and that she wanted to keep him out of prison. The court heard that Mrs Fippard was willing to continue the relationship on the basis that if anything like this ever happened again, she would divorce him.

A report from the probation service added that, while he does not have an absolute dependency on alcohol to function, he does have issues with alcohol and sending him to prison would ultimately lead to the loss of his job as a skilled engineer, and was likely to make his alcohol problems worse.

Sentencing, head of the bench Alan Tait, said that without his wife's comments and those of the probation service, Fippard would have been heading to jail. He said the violence was a "cause for great concern" and warned him: "If this happens again, it is all over for you."

Fippard was given a six month community order with supervision and told he must attend an alcohol treatment programme. He was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a £60 victim surcharge.

A CARE home described by one of its residents earlier this year as "the worst thing that's ever happened to me" is now meeting all of the requirements set by the healthcare regulator.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC), which inspects care homes and hospitals, took action against Goffs Park Nursing Home following a failed inspection in March. A lack of staff led to one resident telling inspectors they had been left in their own faeces and others saying they had not been washed properly.

At the time, then-manager Yaqub Masih told the Crawley News he refused to believe some of the residents' claims and dismissed any suggestions things were not being done properly.

Mr Masih has since left and an acting manager is in place while a permanent manager is sought.

The CQC returned to the home, in Goffs Park Road, Southgate on September 23 and published the results of the inspection on November 13.

Inspectors found that staffing issues had been addressed and that residents were well cared-for and treated with respect.

Staff also told them they had faith in the acting manager.

The CQC issued formal warnings to the home following March's inspection, demanding improvements to the management of medicines, the support management offer staff and the way staff are recruited.

After speaking with the acting manager, the care home provider, the cook, the trained nurse and four care staff on duty, inspectors were confident staffing issues had been addressed.

The latest report read: "There were enough suitably qualified and experienced staff on duty to meet people's needs.

"Staff that we spoke with told us that there were enough staff and that they were able to spend time with people."

Inspectors also spoke with six of the 20 people living at the home and five relatives during the visit.

The inspection team added: "During our inspection we saw people were being spoken with and supported in a sensitive, respectful and professional manner."

LEWIS PRICE admitted it was an "easy decision" to leave Crystal Palace to sign for Crawley Town and is keen to extend his stay between the Reds stick beyond the end of his current loan deal.

Price's loan in Sussex runs out just before Christmas and while the 30-year-old keeper has fitted straight in at Crawley, heralding the "fantastic" team spirit, he admits his future depends on the fight for the number one shirt at Selhurst Park.

"I don't know if I've a future at Palace and the discussions haven't really been here nor there," Price, whose Eagles' contract runs out at the end of the season, said.

"I want to play football, Jules [Speroni] is the one with the shirt but I think Wayne [Hennessey] needs to go and play football as well now. I honestly don't know what's going to happen there.

"The other side of it for me is that if Palace didn't want to renew my contract and an option came up then I would seriously consider it because I'm getting to the age now where I want to play more games.

"I'm at Crawley until the Port Vale game if they wanted to extend it, it would definitely be something I'd be interested in.

"I've only been here a week but it's a great set of lads and fantastic spirit, which is a big thing when you come into a football club and you're the new face.

"To have had so many new players in the summer and then four months into the season, Crawley have a gelled team and a great spirit, that's fantastic. It makes you want to stay, if the option was ever there."

Before Saturday, the custodian had not played since keeping a clean sheet in Mansfield Town's win over Bristol Rovers in May but it did not show.

"It sounds a long time," Price admitted. "It's been a frustrating time but it was nice to get out and play a game of football again.

"If I'm honest I did feel a little bit rusty but so long as I didn't look it. It's tough because nothing matches playing competitive games but when I'm not playing I try to train a lot harder than if I was playing regularly. But also I try to imagine as if I was training for a game that weekend even though I know I'm not."

And given the keeper went from sitting in the stands at Selhurst Park to pulling on a Crawley Town shirt with just five days' notice, it wasn't a bad approach to take.

"I didn't know about the loan until last Monday," he said. "You just never know so if you haven't been training properly and doing things right you aren't going to be prepared and the person who would lose out in that situation would be me.

"I train like I'm playing. It helps that I kind of enjoy it; it's not a bad job, let's be honest."

BLACK Friday is under way in Crawley with a long queue having formed outside Asda as bargain hunters look to grab themselves some cheap Christmas shopping.

Asda opened its doors at 8am but the queue was so long that the manager decided he would have to let shoppers inside in phases, to avoid chaos in the aisles.

Reporter Luke Warren, who is at the store interviewing bargain hunters, said: "The store says that outside the queue was 200 strong.

"The queue stretches all the way from the front doors to halfway along the building next to the road.

"There was another queue inside in a separate area for different products, such as phones, Xboxes and tablets, that was 100 strong."

And on Facebook Lanya Bunyan said: "Just been to Asda to get my stew bits for the weekend and it's crazy already, queues are phenomenal."

Among the bargains Asda is offering on a first-come, first-served basis are cheap 40-inch TVs and the latest Call of Duty game for a knockdown price.

The Tesco store in Three Bridges opened at midnight to offer some secret Black Friday deals - and there was reportedly a queue of 200 people waiting to get in.

Sainsbury's in West Green is also reported to be very busy while Avensys, in Manor Royal, starts its Black Friday sale at 9am.

B&Q, though, is reportedly relatively quiet, with Black Friday deals also on offer there.

*For photos of Black Friday at Asda visit the Crawley News website later today.

A COCAINE addict has been jailed after "threatening to kill everyone at a GPs' surgery" – and then stabbing a doctor in the leg.

Joseph Cocks was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison last Friday, having gone on the rampage at Pound Hill Surgery.

Children had to be locked in a room as the 24-year-old ran amok and tried to get to them.

When police arrived at the doctors', in Crawley Lane, they found Cocks, from Bashford Way, Worth, in the car park with a 12 centimetre long blade.

He told officers he had "stabbed some people" and was arrested.

Dale Sullivan, prosecuting, told Hove Crown Court: "The defendant had an appointment at the surgery, which he arrived slightly late for.

"When he was called through he sat down and started making threats, saying he thought he was mad. When the doctor asked why Cocks withdrew a knife and got up from his chair. The doctor screamed for help and the defendant moved it [the knife] against her hip."

Other doctors and staff heard the cries and rushed to help, as Cocks started wandering around the surgery.

Mr Sullivan added: "Dr Neil Jackson heard the screams and came out to see the defendant who said 'I'm going to kill you all', so he went back into his room, locked the door and called the police.

"Dr Paul Spensley tried to calm the defendant but he had the knife jabbed at him. He returned to his room and securely locked the door because he had child patients, aged 6 and 9, in the room.

"The defendant tried to open the door and this caused the children to become very agitated.

"Dr Malcolm Procter [then] saw the door to his room fly open and the defendant stood there and said 'I'm going to stab everybody'. The doctor tried to stop Cocks rushing at him but his leg was caught by the knife.

"He suffered a stab wound described as 1.5 centimetres in length and he required three stitches.

"A member of reception staff, who saw Cocks waving the knife around and whose leg was also caught by the weapon, was very intimidated by what happened.

"She suffers from anxiety as a result."

The court heard that during the terrifying rampage, which took place on December 20 last year, Cocks broke a window in the lobby by kicking it.

Psychiatric tests determined that Cocks was fit to enter a plea and he pleaded guilty to two charges of threatening a person with a bladed article, and separate charges of GBH with intent, ABH, affray and criminal damage. Two further charges of making threats to kill, which he had pleaded not guilty to, were ordered to remain on file.

George Hepburne-Scott, defending, said that Cocks was "genuinely very, very sorry", adding: "It was clearly a serious and utterly appalling incident and he is ashamed and sickened by what he has done. He is horrified by the fear he caused these people. He wishes he could turn back the clock."

Mr Hepburne-Scott said Cocks had started taking cocaine six months before the incident and was seeking professional help at the surgery when he lost control. "There was concern about his mental health," he added.

"On one occasion he left the family home wearing just boxer shorts and socks. The drugs were causing him to become paranoid. He was desperate to get help."

Cocks's father David spoke emotionally and passionately in defence of his son in court.

Mr Cocks said: "This was completely out of character. It was a cry for help. He didn't think people understood what he was going through."

Mr Cocks explained how much it scared him and his family to see their son in prison – but added that he was now drug free. "We have got our boy back," he told the court.

"He has changed and is back to how he was before this all happened. He tells us he will never take drugs again. Joe wrote to the doctors and staff at the surgery completely of his own volition to apologise. He is so ashamed of what he has done."

Despite the plea, Judge Guy Anthony jailed Cocks for four years and eight months.

He told him: "Doctors, nurses, surgery staff and the public should be able to feel protected and safe from this type of behaviour. It was nothing other than chance that the damage and harm you caused was not greater.

"I understand you have shown remorse for what you did and that you were under the influence of drugs, but this is an aggravating, not a mitigating, factor."

TWO men have been jailed and will be deported once they have served their sentences after a man was shot in the face at point blank range while fishing in Tilgate Park.

At about 1.30am on May 11 this year three men were fishing at Silt Lake within the park when they were approached by a Polish man and a Lithuanian man, who between them shot two of the victims with the victims' own air pistol.

Modestas Kubilius, 24, from Walesbeech, Furnace Green, and Gintas Piscelinas, 26, from Tierney Road, London, begged Judge Shani Barnes not to jail them for more than two years at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, which was Kubilius's birthday.

Both their families live in the UK and a sentence of more than two years would automatically see them deported and sent home to "literally nothing" after they have served their time.

However, Judge Barnes said she had "a duty to the public" to see them punished for the "appalling incident".

She jailed Kubilius for four years and Piscelinas for 34 months.

The three victims had lit a campfire to keep warm while they were fishing and they saw a light approaching them from the opposite side of the lake.

Prosecutor Mark Robinson said: "The two defendants approached the group and told them they shouldn't have a campfire in that area.

"They went on to say they were a Lithuanian and a Pole and they would be blamed (for the fire).

"Mr Kubilius picked up a piece of wood and at this point Mr Piscelinas tried to calm things down. Mr Kubilius then started going through their (the victims') fishing kit and into their tent."

Kubilius picked up a chair and a lamp saying he was going to take them.

At this point one of the victims gave his phone to one of the other victims and told him to go and find some reception to call police.

After he left, Kubilius found an air pistol at the bottom of a bag in the tent and became more aggressive, pointing the gun at the remaining two men.

The gun had been in the bag because they had been shooting cans earlier in the day, something they are legally entitled to do because you do not need a licence for such a weapon.

The court heard that Kubilius turned to one of the two men and said: "This is the day you are going to die."

He then pressed the pistol against the victim's forehead and fired it at point blank range, leaving a pellet embedded in the man's skull.

The victim suffered a fractured skull and had to get the pellet removed by a surgeon.

Mr Robinson told the court there was some confusion over exactly who, out of Kubilius and Piscelinas, did what next.

However, he said the gun was fired four times in total and that both men discharged it after Kubilius passed it to Piscelinas at some point.

The two victims who remained at the lake each received two injuries – one being shot in the hand as well as the forehead and the other being shot in the arm while a pellet also grazed his ear.

Kubilius then walked off with the gun and some pellets, and both defendants were arrested by police when they returned with the third victim.

Kubilius had the gun tucked into his waistband when he and Piscelinas were approached by police.

Rebecca Randall, defending Kubilius, said her client had shown "genuine remorse" and was "very, very anxious" about the prospect of going to prison. She added: "He is desperate to be released today. I have explained to him that is not going to happen.

"However he is also very, very anxious that if he faces a prison sentence, that sentence is kept below the 24-month mark, because he would (otherwise) be deported."

Gordon Ross, defending Piscelinas, made the same submission on behalf of his client.

However, Judge Barnes said: "This man, who realised it was a pellet gun, had it placed onto his forehead and fired. Can you imagine anything more terrifying, except a real gun?"

As she sentenced the men, she added: "Thank goodness this wasn't a dangerous firearm because what you did that night would have undoubtedly killed one of these men and we would be in a very different position now."

Both men pleaded guilty to possession of an air weapon with intent to cause fear of violence.

Kubilius also admitted two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, in relation to the shooting of the men. Piscelinas also admitted one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

A NEW 10km run in Goffs Park could help a boy who took the brave decision to have both his legs amputated fulfil his dream of being able to run.

The story of 14-year-old Ryan Brand's conclusion that he would have a better life without his legs is one which has touched the hearts of people across the town.

Ryan, who was born with spina bifida and had no feeling in his feet, trod on a nail at the age of three and the resulting infection meant he spent his childhood in and out of hospital.

At the start of this year Ryan was told he would never be rid of the infection in his left foot so he decided to have his left leg amputated on April 18.

He then decided to have his right leg amputated on October 8, after realising how much stronger a prosthetic limb made him.

Since we shared his story last month readers have rallied to help him raise enough money to buy special prosthetic limbs which will mean he can run.

Stuart Marshall, manager of the newly opened Morrisons store in the High Street, has organised a 10km run and 5km walk with the aim of raising enough money to buy one of Ryan's new legs, which cost £10,000 each.

The event in Goffs Park will take place on February 22 and participants will be asked to raise a minimum of £50 to take part.

To register your interest e-mail Stuart Marshall at stor639p@morrisonsplc.co.uk

Ryan's friend Charlie Doherty, with whom he attends St Wilfrid's School, in Southgate, held a dinner dance on Saturday to raise money towards Ryan's new legs. The total amount is still being counted.

Salon Secret, in Northgate Road, Northgate, held a day of fundraising on Sunday for Ryan, who lives in Buckmans Road, West Green, raising more than £1,000. Salon Secret, Lloyds Barbers in Crawley High Street and Morrisons petrol station in Broadfield are all displaying collection buckets so people can continue to donate.

A SWAP shop for bicycles, fishing tackle and sports equipment has opened in Tilgate offering people keen on taking up a new hobby the chance to get started at a cheaper price.

Dan's Sports Den has been up and running for the last four weeks from a unit in an old builders' yard, in Tilgate Place, behind the neighbourhood parade of shops.

The business venture is the brainchild of Dan Ciutacu who decided to open a shop after spending years collecting and transforming second hand items and selling them from his home.

Rather than being your standard sports shop the den is full of second hand equipment which has been given a new lease of life for people who want to buy or exchange.

Dan, from Stone Court in Maidenbower, said: "Starting a hobby can be expensive which immediately puts people off and I want to provide the option to take up a new activity or sport at the fraction of the cost of buying brand new equipment.

"Fishing has been a hobby of mine for a long time, I used to go with my father, and more recently I've got into cycling too.

"I love a project and about two-and-a-half years ago I started going to car boot sales and picking up second-hand bikes and fishing tackle.

"Then at home in my garage I would put the fishing equipment, including reels, rods, poles and hooks, into individual pieces and service and clean the bikes, to make sure they were in a 100 per cent resalable condition."

Dan still goes to car boot sales in search of a bargain but has moved on to using websites such as Gumtree and eBay.

He added: "I run checks before I buy anything to make sure it is not stolen.

"The garage wasn't big enough so it was time to get my own business premises."

Dan, who moved to the UK five years ago from Romania, took over the former workshop space at the start of October and spent three weeks refurbishing it.

It has now been renovated into an Aladdin's cave of new and second hand bikes and fishing tackle.

From the Astroturf on the once dirty stone floor to the old baseball gloves and surfboard hanging from the ceiling the unit has been given a complete makeover.

Dan, 29, added: "I've got a vintage bike, with a sign attached advertising the den, which I have been riding around Crawley.

"My customers so far have come through word of mouth and I have had some lovely feedback.

"There isn't another second hand shop like this in Crawley."

As well as second hand equipment the shop also stocks new items such as bike tyres, pedals and bells.

In the future Dan is also looking to stock a wider range of products including football boots, bibs and possibly skateboards.

"I don't want this to be a sports shop like JJB Sports," he said.

"Our bikes start at £20 to £30 and go up to about £800. But those more expensive bikes would have been retailed for £2,500 brand new.

"Being so close to Tilgate Park I hope families on days out will come here first and buy a cheap fishing rod – and the maggots too."