Brighton jewellers closure: customers owed thousands demand police reopen case
Sussex Police have closed their investigation into two Brighton jewellers that shut without warning. Customers who say they lost thousands of pounds are calling for the case to be reopened.
Sussex Police close inquiry into Brighton jewellers as customers demand justice
Sussex Police have concluded their investigation into the sudden closure of two Brighton jewellers, The Argus reports — leaving customers who say they are owed thousands of pounds frustrated and without recourse.
Crown Diamond, in Union Street, and Platinum Fine Jewellery, in Brighton Square, both shut abruptly at the end of last year, offering no explanation to customers who had left jewellery or placed orders with the stores. Sussex Police confirmed at the time that it was aware of the closures and invited those affected to come forward.
A spokesman for Sussex Police said the force had carried out a thorough investigation into reports of theft and fraud relating to a premises in The Lanes, Brighton. "Our investigation has concluded, pending any new evidence coming to light," the spokesman said. "We understand the concern these incidents have generated and the impact it has had on victims, who have been informed of the conclusion of the investigation."
Despite that statement, those who say they suffered financially are pressing for the case to be reopened.
Colin Daniels, who worked as a stone supplier providing diamonds stocked in both stores, says he is owed more than £20,000 for diamonds that were being held in the jewellers' safe at the time of the closure. He had known the owner for over ten years, describing him as a "friend" before the police became involved.
"I'm flabbergasted it has got to this stage," Mr Daniels said. "At that time I had limited business and after this incident, and because trade is not as bright as it used to be, I just couldn't absorb those losses. I had to go into liquidation. It screwed me."
David Briggs and his partner, Julia Gaitley, say they are also owed a substantial sum. Mr Briggs says he lent more than £40,000 to the business and separately paid over £4,000 for two rings he never received. He had previously told The Argus that the owner had made him feel "like one of the family".
"It's affected us a lot, there's been a lot of arguments," Mr Briggs said. "It's a huge amount of money." He urged Sussex Police to reconsider the case. "The police just don't want to know," he added.
Online reviews gathered after the closures paint a similar picture. One customer wrote that they had taken a ring back to Crown Diamond for repair, been told it was ready to collect, then arrived on 30 December 2025 to find the store shut with a handwritten note on the window. "Now I'm not able to get it back," they wrote. Another said they had ordered a bracelet on Christmas Eve and been told to collect it the following week, only to find both stores locked when they visited in person.
A notice of forfeiture was displayed at Crown Diamond in January, indicating the landlord had re-entered the property.
Sussex Police have said the investigation remains closed unless new evidence emerges. Customers continue to call for the inquiry to be resumed.
Source: The Argus