Ipswich Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Tamani Cama was driving a black Ford Focus erratically southbound on the A1(M) between junctions 57 and 53 on June 28, 2025, when he lost control and collided with a VW Transporter campervan. The VW spun, causing the family dog to be thrown from the vehicle; the dog later had to be put to sleep. Cama ran down a grass verge and collapsed, and was taken to hospital for arm and chest injuries. A blood sample contained 61mg of alcohol per 100ml, below the legal limit.

Mark Kelly, 47, of no fixed abode, was issued with a Domestic Violence Protection Order on 11 August. He was arrested on 5 September after attending an address in Newmarket the previous week that he was prohibited from entering under the order. He appeared at Ipswich Magistrates' Court on 7 September and was sentenced for breaching the order.

Isaac Holt was stopped by police in High Street, Newmarket, in the early hours of Saturday, July 11, after officers on patrol saw a black Mazda being driven erratically, exceeding the 30mph speed limit and overtaking other vehicles. He failed a roadside breath test and later provided an evidential sample of breath with a reading of 72 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. At Ipswich Magistrates Court on Tuesday, September 1, he was disqualified from driving for 40 months, fined £833, and ordered to pay a £333 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Simon Birdseye, aged 70, sent unsolicited images of himself, including photographs of his genitals, via Facebook to a woman he did not know. The victim reported the messages in November 2025. He was arrested on December 3, 2025 and pleaded guilty to sending a photograph or film of genitals to cause alarm, distress or humiliation.

John Sayers, of no fixed abode but previously from the Ipswich area, was subject to a domestic abuse protection order with conditions not to enter Suffolk or contact the victim. Between 24 and 27 July 2026, he breached those conditions on multiple occasions by attending the victim's address, throwing stones at a window in the early hours, leaving a large cuddly toy on the doorstep, and posting letters through the letterbox in which he intimated he planned to harm himself. One visit was captured on a doorbell camera. He was later arrested and sentenced after pleading guilty to stalking involving serious alarm or distress.

On 29 March 2026, police were called by a member of the public reporting a grey BMW being driven erratically near Brome and on the A140 near Eye. The vehicle repeatedly drifted across the road and was followed until it stopped in Cunningham Drive. Furze was found in the driver's seat and admitted he had been drinking. He failed a roadside breath test with 170 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath and later gave an evidential sample of 196 microgrammes, more than five times the legal limit.

Allison Lefebvre drove eastbound on the westbound carriageway of the A14 between Sproughton and Whitehouse on 17 December when her white Mini One struck a Peugeot 208; an HGV was also damaged. She failed a roadside breath test with 96 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath and later refused to provide a blood specimen. The teenage driver of the Peugeot was taken to hospital and has suffered chronic back pain, anxiety, trouble sleeping and a fear of driving since the collision.

Thomas Gillingham was spotted by roads policing officers driving a Ford Ranger in Little Blakenham at approximately 18:15 on 19 May. He was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving while disqualified, taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning, and later charged with driving while disqualified and driving without motor insurance.

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.

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.

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.

Robert Rooney, 71, of 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.

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.

Leon Hutchison 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.

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.

32 year old David Sheldrake of 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.