Norwich Crown Court Sentencing Results

On February 29, 2024, Ashley Francis, 27, stabbed his 81-year-old grandfather, Mervyn Francis, in the neck at his grandparents' house in Hockwold while experiencing psychosis and hearing voices. This spontaneous act was carried out in front of his grandmother using a knife he brought from home. His grandfather was taken to hospital, underwent surgery, but died on March 7, 2024. Francis was arrested at the scene and charged with murder, but a defence of insanity was accepted.

Police seized 17 devices from Matthew Rout, 39, previously of Ferry Road, Heckingham, near Loddon, and discovered 373 category A images, 151 category A videos, 307 category B images and 28 videos, and 278 category C images and 18 videos depicting child abuse.

Martin Daniels, 66, of North Walsham Road, Banningham, near Aylsham, a former Sea Scout leader, repeatedly abused two boys starting when they were aged 11 and 7 in the 1980s and 1990s, while he was a trusted member of their extended family.

Barrie Williams, 35, from The Common, Botesdale, Diss, engaged in sexual communication with an undercover officer posing as a girl under 13, making graphic remarks about oral sex and other acts, as part of his attempts to incite sexual activity.

Billy Stratton entered a home in Lawn Avenue, Great Yarmouth, via an unlocked door and stole a set of car keys, driving off in a grey Fiat Punto. He was caught on CCTV at a McDonalds drive-through in the town and later arrested in Cambridgeshire while driving the stolen car. At the time, he was more than four times over the legal drink-drive limit, smelt strongly of alcohol, and had 24 zip-locked 'deal' bags of cannabis under the front passenger seat. He was also disqualified from driving until 2026.

Tegan Burton, aged 21, was involved in a violent and unprovoked attack on January 1, 2024, in Norwich. She struck the victim, a woman in her 40s who was walking home from New Year's celebrations, on the back of the head with a bottle after the victim wished the group a Happy New Year. Burton then joined the others in kicking and stamping on the victim while she was on the ground, during a prolonged assault where threats were made. The victim suffered a fractured left cheekbone, fractures to a bone in her right hand, and a wound to the back of her head, leading to ongoing psychological effects.

Ruby McBeath, aged 20, participated in a violent attack on January 1, 2024, in Norwich. Along with two others, she assaulted a woman in her 40s who had wished them a Happy New Year while they were lying in the road. McBeath joined in kicking and stamping on the victim after the initial strike, during a 'three on one' assault involving threats and physical violence. The victim sustained a fractured left cheekbone, fractures to a bone in her right hand, and a wound to the back of her head, resulting in significant emotional and physical trauma.

Samara Royal, aged 22, joined a violent and unprovoked attack on January 1, 2024, in Norwich. She participated after a woman in her 40s wished the group a Happy New Year, contributing to the assault by kicking the victim two or three times while she was on the ground. The attack involved multiple assailants screaming threats and physically harming the victim, who suffered a fractured left cheekbone, fractures to a bone in her right hand, and a wound to the back of her head, leading to lasting psychological effects.

Paul Berryman attempted to fabricate a long and distinguished career in the British Army, including service in the Parachute Regiment from 1979 to 2007, to avoid a mandatory minimum five-year jail term for possessing a prohibited firearm discovered during a search of his home in 2018. He provided fraudulent documents with basic spelling errors to support his claims. An investigation confirmed he only enlisted in November 1979 and was discharged less than two weeks later without completing basic training. Additionally, in 2007, he was working as a binman, contradicting his stories. This deception led to his conviction for perverting the course of justice.

Mark Sutton committed three burglaries at businesses in Queen's House, Queen's Road, Norwich, in January 2023. He admitted the offences but failed to appear for his initial sentencing on March 25, 2024, leading to a warrant for his arrest. He was subsequently brought back to court and sentenced.

Alan Johnson, a former PE teacher aged 71, abused his position of trust at schools in the Lowestoft area during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He conducted a campaign of abuse against two child victims, including kissing one victim on the lips while at middle school, continuing with indecent assaults at high school in PE changing rooms, inviting her to his house where he raped her under the guise of giving a birthday present, and forcing her to perform oral sex in the school office. He also indecently assaulted a second victim starting when she was a middle school pupil. The victims suffered severe psychological harm, with one feeling ashamed, worthless, and estranged from her family, leading her to move away. Johnson asked for an additional indecent assault against a third child victim to be considered.

Nigel Malt murdered his 19-year-old estranged daughter Lauren by deliberately running her over twice with his Mercedes car during a family dispute outside her home on Leete Way in West Winch, near King's Lynn, in January 2022. He reversed into her after threatening her boyfriend with a crowbar and then drove forward over her body. He was totally consumed by anger, and his relationship with his family was broken. Afterwards, he placed her body in his car and drove to the shop where her mother worked. A post-mortem examination revealed she died from significant traumatic injuries to her chest and abdomen.

Derek Klein, a self-employed accountant and treasurer for two parochial church councils in north Norfolk, embezzled £70,000 over 23 years from Bacton and Ridlington churches. The funds were raised through parish events, grants, and donations, and were used to fuel his addictions to stamp collecting and online gambling. He concealed his actions with lies, including claims of money in a Jersey account, until suspicions from the Reverend Dr Richard Hines led to his exposure.