Ipswich Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Explore 36 verdicts at Ipswich Magistrates' Court (Ipswich). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

March 2026 1 case

Adam Mowle

Acquiring criminal property by fraud *

Sentence

12-month suspended sentence

Adam Mowle, 34, of Larksfield Crescent, Harwich, impersonated a woman named 'Jenna Leigh Smith' in an online romance scam. Over a ten-month period, he formed a relationship with a Suffolk victim who paid over £9,000 into Mowle's personal bank account, believing the money was needed due to illness and financial difficulties. The scam was reported to Suffolk Trading Standards, leading to an investigation and Mowle's arrest for laundering the funds.

Pleaded guilty to one count of acquiring criminal property by fraud. Ordered to pay £9,165 in compensation, £187 victim surcharge, £850 prosecution costs, and complete 25 days of rehabilitation activities.

18 Mar 2026

February 2026 1 case

William Backhouse

Driving a Motor Vehicle Dangerously and Endangering the Safety of a Person Conveyed by Railway *

Sentence

8-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, disqualified from driving for 1 year, ordered to pay £1,500 in compensation

On 13 September 2025, while delivering parcels in Braystones, Cumbria, Backhouse crossed a gated level crossing and manually lifted the barrier without telephoning the signaller using the trackside phone as required. After the delivery, he returned and drove his van onto the tracks as a train was passing, resulting in the train striking the front of the vehicle, tearing off the front corner and scattering debris.

Pleaded guilty on 27 January to Driving a Motor Vehicle Dangerously and Endangering the Safety of a Person Conveyed by Railway.

26 Feb 2026

January 2026 1 case

Michael Majewski

Theft *

Sentence

7 days imprisonment

On February 2, 2025, Michael Majewski, 36, previously of Thompson Road in Griston, Norfolk, stole ready meals worth around £70 from a freezer in a communal area where a man in his 80s lived in Newmarket. The meals had been delivered to the pensioner by his daughter. Suffolk Police received reports of the theft, and Majewski admitted to the crime.

Pleaded guilty to theft. Already serving a 7-year sentence for aggravated burglary, attempted burglary, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

5 Jan 2026

December 2025 2 cases

Richard Hoban

Drink-driving *

Sentence

Disqualified from driving for 24 months, fined £653

Richard Hoban was spotted by an off-duty police officer driving erratically and mounting the kerb on Main Road, Kesgrave, at about 7.25am on December 13, 2025. He was driving a Suzuki Vitara which stopped on Through Jollys. He failed a roadside breath test with 79 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath (legal limit 35 microgrammes) and was arrested. An evidential sample in custody showed 98 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath.

Pleaded guilty to drink-driving. Disqualification reduced by 24 weeks if he completes an approved course. Ordered to pay £110 in costs and £261 victim surcharge.

19 Dec 2025

Ruth Cook

Drink-driving *

Sentence

Disqualified from driving for 19 months and fined £768

Ruth Cook was the driver of a blue Mercedes involved in a three-vehicle collision on School Road, Great Barton, near Bury St Edmunds, on December 4, 2025, at about 3.15pm. The crash also involved a black Jeep and a Ford Transit van near the primary school. No injuries were reported. She was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs, taken to the Bury Police Investigation Centre for questioning, and charged with drink-driving.

Pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level is above the limit.

6 Dec 2025

October 2025 4 cases

Robert Rooney

Anti-social behaviour *

Sentence

2-year Criminal Behaviour Order

Robert Rooney, 71, of Eastern Avenue, Haverhill, Suffolk, was involved in two incidents of anti-social behaviour. On July 22, 2025, he behaved in a drunk and disorderly manner along Haverhill High Street. On February 20, 2025, he approached people under the age of 18, breaching a previous Community Protection Notice.

Banned from approaching anyone under 18 unless in a legitimate emergency, asking personal questions, offering money to under 18s, and possessing open alcohol in public places without receipt and in carrier bag. Issued following charges for drunk and disorderly behaviour and breaching Community Protection Notice.

29 Oct 2025

Gazza Vinyard

Dangerous driving and stalking causing serious alarm or distress *

Sentence

52 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 24 months

On 9 September 2025, at around 22:00, Gazza Vinyard failed to stop for police in Ipswich while driving a Volkswagen Golf on Felixstowe Road. He was wanted for stalking offences. During the pursuit, he drove dangerously, undertaking high-risk manoeuvres, and drove the wrong way down the A12 at Foxhall towards oncoming traffic. Police terminated the pursuit with tactical contact and apprehended him on foot. The stalking involved repeatedly driving past the victim's home, calling, texting, messaging, and following her over a 10-week period from 30 June 2025.

Pleaded guilty to six offences: dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis, failing to stop for police, driving without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and stalking causing serious alarm or distress. Disqualified from driving for 24 months, ordered to complete 26 sessions of an accredited programme, 20 days rehabilitation activity, and pay £197 costs and charges.

17 Oct 2025

Sanaullah Niazai

Selling illegal cigarettes and vapes *

Sentence

Fined £538

Sanaullah Niazai, sole director of Five Brothers123 Ltd (trading as Kingdom of American Sweets in Sudbury) and Brothers123 Ltd (running Original Haverhill Sweetshop in Haverhill), was involved in selling illegal vapes and cigarettes. The Sudbury shop was raided in February 2024, seizing 368 vapes, followed by an official warning. In May 2024, another raid seized 188 illegal vapes and 129 packets of illegal tobacco, including 64 counterfeit Richmond cigarettes. In August 2024, the Haverhill store was raided, seizing 2,880 cigarettes, 16 packs of hand-rolling tobacco, and 89 illegal vapes, some hidden in compartments. Niazai was interviewed twice under caution and gave inconsistent explanations despite admitting the products were illegal.

Pleaded guilty to four charges. Ordered to pay victim surcharge of £215 and £7,082.70 to Suffolk County Council.

6 Oct 2025

Leon Hutchison

stalking without fear/alarm/distress *

Sentence

18 weeks suspended for two years

Leon Hutchison, of Mulberry Gardens, continued to contact his victim even after she blocked his number, subjecting her to repeated unwanted communication that police described as invasive and distressing, including repeated and persistent calls and messages, long voicemail messages, and emails.

Pleaded guilty to stalking without fear/alarm/distress. Made subject to a restraining order for two years.

2 Oct 2025

September 2025 1 case

Afoke Edematie

Drink driving *

Sentence

12 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months, disqualified from driving for 36 months, £154 victim surcharge, and £85 costs

Afoke Edematie was driving a Peugeot 207 erratically on the A14 at Newmarket on May 24, 2025, with two children in the vehicle. He was stopped by police after being observed driving erratically, failed a roadside breath test with 124 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath (over three times the legal limit of 35 micrograms), and was found to have no valid motor insurance or current UK driving licence. He was arrested and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre.

Pleaded guilty to drink driving, using a motor vehicle without insurance, and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. Also given a rehabilitation activity requirement.

3 Sep 2025

June 2025 1 case

George Msipa

Drink driving *

Sentence

40 months driving disqualification and £500 fine

George Msipa was found slumped in his Mercedes parked beside the A14 near Stow cum Quy at junction 35, with part of the vehicle sticking out into a live lane, at about 7am on June 1, 2025. He was suspected of drink driving and failed a breath test with a reading of 93, more than twice the legal limit. He resides on Folley Road, Mildenhall, Bury St Edmunds.

Pleaded guilty to drink driving. PC Jack Taylor commented that his actions were extremely dangerous, putting himself, other drivers, and officers at risk.

2 Jun 2025

January 2025 1 case

Valon Aliaj

Wrongfully displaying a Blue Badge contrary to Section 117 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 *

Sentence

Fined £166 plus £1,500 investigatory and legal costs and £66 victim surcharge

Valon Aliaj, of Woolwich Common, London, wrongfully displayed someone else's Blue Badge in Norwich Road Shoppers Car Park on 14 May 2024, discovered by an Ipswich Borough Council parking officer.

Pleaded guilty. Initially claimed the badge belonged to a family member, later said he found it in the car park.

13 Jan 2025

November 2024 2 cases

Steven Barnes

Breach of suspended sentence *

Sentence

16 weeks imprisonment

Steven Barnes, of Broom Meadow Lane in Elmswell, appeared at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on 27 November 2024 and pleaded guilty to failing to attend follow-up drug assessments relating to class A drugs. His suspended sentence was activated and he was sentenced to 16 weeks’ imprisonment.

Pleaded guilty to failing to attend follow-up drug assessments relating to class A drugs. Suspended sentence activated. Sergeant Allard commented on lack of regard for professional services.

27 Nov 2024

Darren Hodgeson

Breach of criminal behaviour order *

Sentence

18 weeks imprisonment

Darren Hodgeson, 56, of no fixed abode but from the Bury St Edmunds area, was arrested on 9 September and charged with two counts of breaching an existing criminal behaviour order (CBO). He appeared at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 12 November where he was sentenced to 18 weeks’ imprisonment.

Pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching an existing criminal behaviour order. Part of local policing priority to tackle anti-social behaviour.

12 Nov 2024

September 2024 2 cases

Gavin Mcconkey

Burglary *

Sentence

36 weeks imprisonment and £250 compensation

Gavin McConkey broke into a business on The Cornhill in Bury St Edmunds on September 26, stealing bottles of alcohol. He was also in possession of cannabis and breached a suspended sentence order. He was arrested on September 27.

Pleaded guilty to burglary, possession of cannabis and breaching a suspended sentence order. No fixed address.

28 Sep 2024

David Dennington

Vehicle interference, fraud, and handling stolen goods *

Sentence

12 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £626.14 in compensation

David Dennington committed crimes in the Chantry area in August 2024, including one count of vehicle interference, two counts of fraud, and two counts of handling stolen goods.

Pleaded guilty to multiple charges including one count of vehicle interference, two counts of fraud, and two counts of handling stolen goods. Of no fixed address.

11 Sep 2024

August 2024 1 case

Kladji Sula

Being concerned in the supply of cannabis *

Sentence

10 months in prison

Sentinel South officers stopped Sula on April 6th in the Gatacre Road area. A search of his Ipswich address found 120 pouches of cannabis and over £4,500 in cash.

Admitted to supplying cannabis from 7 March until his arrest. Charged with being concerned in the supply of cannabis and possessing proceeds of crime. £4,540 cash forfeited to Suffolk Police.

6 Aug 2024

July 2024 3 cases

Gocea

Theft from shop *

Sentence

14-week prison sentence

On 7 July, Gocea, 22, of Strone Road, London, was part of a group of at least three men and two women spotted stealing items from an Ipswich supermarket. The group attempted to flee but was detained by security staff before police arrived and arrested them.

Pleaded guilty to theft from shop. Ordered to pay £239 in costs.

9 Jul 2024

Durac

Theft from shop *

Sentence

10-week prison sentence

On 7 July, Durac, 22, of no fixed abode, was part of a group of at least three men and two women spotted stealing items from an Ipswich supermarket. The group attempted to flee but was detained by security staff before police arrived and arrested them.

Pleaded guilty to theft from shop. Ordered to pay £239 in costs.

9 Jul 2024

John Ryan

Wrongful display of a blue badge *

Sentence

Fined £1674

On 15 December 2023, John Ryan parked on double yellow lines in Newmarket displaying a blue badge that had been cancelled in February 2022. He refused to hand over the badge for inspection and drove away. The badge belonged to his deceased father.

Pleaded guilty to two offences. Blue badge belonged to deceased father.

1 Jul 2024

June 2024 2 cases

Amber Edwards

Possession of a bladed article *

Sentence

Community order with 15 rehabilitation days and a fine of £114

On February 24, 2024, in Newmarket on Rous Road, Amber Edwards was found carrying a folding knife and locking knife without good reason or lawful authority.

Pleaded guilty. Court considered it a first offence for a young woman with a disability who cares for three young children. Also ordered to pay costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

19 Jun 2024

Robert Mirabita

Speeding *

Sentence

£666 fine and 6 penalty points, with total costs of £1,042

Robert Mirabita was caught driving a Mercedes A200 at a speed exceeding the 40mph limit on the A11 near the Fiveways Roundabout in Barton Mills on January 11, 2024. The speed restriction is enforced under the A11 Trunk Road Local Traffic Order of 2018.

Pleaded guilty to the offence. Ordered to pay the full amount by July 15, 2025.

17 Jun 2024

April 2024 1 case

Sam Ellis

Driving with excess drugs in blood *

Sentence

2 years and 5 months driving ban, 8 weeks imprisonment suspended for 1 year

Sam Ellis, 34, of Browns Avenue, Runwell, was driving a Vauxhall Combo along Norwich Road in Ipswich with 130 micrograms of benzoylecgonine per litre of blood on October 2.

Admitted to driving with excess drugs in blood.

25 Apr 2024

Date Not Specified 13 cases

Samantha Harris

Fraud *

Sentence

6 months custody suspended for 2 years and 15 days of rehabilitation activity

Samantha Harris, employed by Suffolk County Council as a Youth Support Practitioner in a Children’s Home, dishonestly worked a second job with a private care agency while on full sick pay, receiving £10,565.25 in sick pay and contributions. She had five separate sickness absences and worked for the agency during each, exaggerating her illness to management while undertaking similar physically demanding work elsewhere. She messaged colleagues about severe symptoms, including sharing a photo of a positive COVID-19 test, while working shifts in her second job. The fraud occurred between December 2022 and May 2023.

Pleaded guilty to fraud. Ordered to pay £17,051.41 compensation and costs plus £154 victim surcharge.

1 Jan 0001

Russell Wayne Price

Breaches of Housing Act 2004 *

Sentence

Ordered to pay £25,900 in charges and fines plus council costs totalling £32,980

Price let two properties as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) despite Prohibition Orders served in 2008 and 2010 banning such use. Housing officers inspected both in December 2016 and found safety issues including insufficient fire detection and escape routes, lack of gas and electrical safety certificates, loose electrical socket, exposed pipework, stairs without handrail, damp and mould. Properties not up to suitable living standards.

Denied all charges at earlier hearing; found guilty after three-day trial. District Judge Timothy King noted he 'cut corners' and exposed tenants to 'significant risk of harm'. 13 charges under Housing Act 2004; two for failure to provide information about properties.

1 Jan 0001

Nigel Hodges

Driving with excess alcohol *

Sentence

8 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months

On Saturday 26 November 2022, Nigel Hodges was driving an HGV lorry that was reported swerving across the road. He was stopped on the off slip at junction 44 on the eastbound A14 near Bury St Edmunds. A breath test showed 127 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. He was charged with driving whilst over the alcohol limit and appeared at Ipswich Magistrates Court where he received the sentence.

Also banned from driving for 48 months and ordered to pay costs of £250. Pleaded guilty implied by sentencing outcome.

1 Jan 0001

Peter Harrell

Blue Badge misuse *

Sentence

Fined £660 plus £2,778 costs and £66 surcharge

Peter Harrell parked on the access to Guineas Service Road in Newmarket in November 2021. He altered the expiry date on a Blue Badge which had been cancelled a month after his mother died in August 2020. He was prosecuted by Ipswich Magistrates for defacing the badge.

Found guilty after claiming the badge belonged to his deceased mother. Total amount payable £3,504.

1 Jan 0001

Steven Perrio

Burglary *

Sentence

9 months imprisonment

Steven Perrio, of Bevis Walk, Bury St Edmunds, smashed a window at Eastgate Stores in Eastgate Street just before 4.30am on 13 December 2023 and entered the building, stealing over £2,000 worth of tobacco products. The shopkeeper arrived to investigate and was punched and knocked to the floor by Perrio, who then fled. He was arrested later that morning and rearrested on 9 January after forensic evidence linked him to the scene.

Pleaded guilty to burglary, common assault and disobeying a court order. Ordered to pay £250 compensation and £332 costs.

1 Jan 0001

Scott Cummings

Breach of domestic violence order *

Sentence

6 weeks imprisonment

Scott Cummings from Bury St Edmunds breached his domestic violence and community protection orders. He appeared at court on Saturday 2nd March 2024.

34-year-old of no fixed address. Police praised officers from the Response Investigation Team.

1 Jan 0001

Sean Abrey

Theft from motor vehicle *

Sentence

18 weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months with 100 hours unpaid work

Sean Abrey was arrested and charged in connection with theft from a motor vehicle and theft of a motor vehicle in Bury St Edmunds in May 2021. He admitted to 19 further offences taken into consideration, consisting of 13 cases of interference with motor vehicles (including 11 in the Bell Meadow area on 27 January), two thefts from motor vehicles on the same night, one attempted theft from shops, and two thefts of keys and a purse from persons in Bury Cathedral in September 2020.

Pleaded guilty. 19 additional offences taken into consideration including interference with motor vehicles, theft from motor vehicles, attempted theft from shops and thefts from persons.

1 Jan 0001

Wayne Parker

Bovine Tuberculosis risk offences *

Sentence

12-week custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months

Wayne Parker, 35, from Mildenhall, was prosecuted for posing a serious risk of spreading Bovine Tuberculosis. His crimes included failing to dispose of farmed animal remains appropriately, moving large quantities of cattle without following the required processes and not keeping adequate records of his cattle.

Also ordered to pay a £122 victim surcharge along with costs to Suffolk Trading Standards. Previously prosecuted for posing a serious risk of spreading Bovine Tuberculosis.

1 Jan 0001

David Sheldrake

Driving whilst disqualified *

Sentence

8 weeks imprisonment

32 year old David Sheldrake of Hall Lane in Elmswell was stopped on Wednesday 21 October 2020 on Hall Lane following information received from the public about him driving a vehicle whilst disqualified. He was taken to Bury St Edmunds Police investigation Centre for questioning. He was subsequently charged with driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance and appeared before magistrates the following day.

Pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance. Also disqualified from driving for 16 months.

1 Jan 0001

Declan Walsh

Making off without payment *

Sentence

16 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months

Declan Walsh committed 10 charges of making off without payment at petrol stations between March 2020 and August 2020 in Brandon, Woodbridge, Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk), Thetford (Norfolk) and Milton (Cambridgeshire). He asked for seven further similar offences between August and December 2020 in Nacton, Bury St Edmunds, Coddenham, Stowmarket and Sudbury to be taken into consideration.

Pleaded guilty. Also disqualified from driving for three months and ordered to pay compensation costs totalling more than £500. Asked for seven other offences to be taken into consideration. Remorseful, had fallen on hard times.

1 Jan 0001

Devin Paola

Theft from a shop *

Sentence

12-week custodial sentence

Devin Paola, 24, of Chalk Road South, Bury St Edmunds, committed 11 theft from shop offences in the town centre, as well as a public order offence and one count of assault by beating. He was arrested on 24 June on suspicion of having stolen clothing from a shop.

Convicted of 11 theft from shop offences, a public order offence and one count of assault by beating. Ordered to pay costs and victim surcharges totalling £1,169.98. Arrested on 24 June.

1 Jan 0001

Lee Chapman

Burglary *

Sentence

4 months imprisonment

Lee Chapman, aged 44 and of no fixed address but from Bury St Edmunds, committed two burglaries: one at Nowton Park café overnight 6 to 7 April 2022 and one at Jimmy’s Fish and Chip shop at Hardwick shopping centre overnight between 29 December and 30 December 2022. Forensic evidence from a rock and a paving slab linked him to both scenes. He was arrested in April 2023 after intelligence led officers to a tent in a wooded area near Sainsbury’s store in Bury St Edmunds. He had been living under a false identity while wanted on prison recall since 2015.

Pleaded guilty to two burglaries. Two other burglary offences taken into consideration. Had been wanted on prison recall since 2015, living under a false name.

1 Jan 0001

Mariusz Kawinski

Drink-driving *

Sentence

16-week custodial sentence suspended for 2 years, 36 months driving disqualification, 120 hours unpaid work, fined £600

Mariusz Kawinski was stopped by police at the Macebearer public house on Home Farm Lane, Bury St Edmunds on 8 September 2020 after a member of the public reported concerns about his driving. He was found to be more than four times over the legal alcohol limit and his vehicle had exposed tyre cords and an obscured windscreen. He pleaded guilty to driving above the prescribed alcohol limit, using a motor vehicle with exposed tyre cords and driving with an obscured windscreen.

Pleaded guilty to three charges. Inspector Gary Miller commented on the unacceptability of the offences.

1 Jan 0001

Disclaimer: The information on this page is compiled from publicly available court records and published media reports. It is provided strictly for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as a definitive record of any individual's criminal history or legal status.

Offence names marked with an asterisk (*) reflect descriptions used in media reporting and may not correspond to the formal legal charge or indictment. Sentencing details are as reported and may be subject to subsequent appeal, variation, or correction by the courts.

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Magistrates Court, Elm St, Ipswich IP1 2AP, Ipswich, IP1 2AP, United Kingdom

+441473217261

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About Ipswich Magistrates' Court

Ipswich Magistrates' Court, located in Ipswich, is a Magistrates' Court that deals with summary offences, some either-way offences, and preliminary hearings for more serious cases. With 36 sentencing records in our database, it serves the Ipswich area and surrounding communities. Magistrates' Courts handle the majority of criminal cases in England and Wales, with cases heard by a bench of magistrates or a district judge.

The court can be found at Magistrates Court, Elm St, Ipswich IP1 2AP, IP1 2AP.

Accessibility provisions at this court include wheelchair accessible entrance.

For enquiries about cases heard at this court, you can contact the court by telephone on +441473217261.

All sentencing information published on this page has been sourced from publicly-available records and verified by our editorial team. If you believe any information is inaccurate or should be removed, you can submit a removal request directly from the relevant listing above.