Norwich Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Faruc-Emilian Alexandru, 36, of Cromwell Road, Peterborough, committed eight offences of theft from shops between September 2024 and October 2025 in King's Lynn, Cambridgeshire, and Nottinghamshire. The thefts included 25 cases of energy drinks worth £250 and 38 tubs of chocolate worth £168 from a store in Lynn, as well as other items worth more than £2,600 in total across multiple locations.

Viorel Constantin, 37, of Alma Road, Peterborough, committed two offences of theft from shops between September 2024 and October 2025 in King's Lynn, Cambridgeshire, and Nottinghamshire. The thefts were part of a series involving items worth more than £2,600 in total, including from stores in Lynn town centre.

Mark Wilson, a 38-year-old man with links to King’s Lynn, was arrested after attempting to steal raincoats worth £339 from Mountain Warehouse in Norwich. He was wanted on recall to prison for breaching the terms of his licence and appeared in court, where he admitted the offence. The court determined that the offence was serious enough to warrant immediate imprisonment.

Daniel Eldridge caused unnecessary suffering to a Patterdale Terrier named Spud by using it for badger hunting at a farm in Marshland St James and failing to seek veterinary care for severe facial injuries, including skin avulsions from the lips and chin, likely caused by a badger bite. The injuries occurred between December 1 and 4, 2021, and January 11 and 15, 2023, resulting in the dog suffering for at least three to four days without pain relief. Additionally, evidence showed he illegally docked the tails of six puppies, a procedure not permitted under the law.

Craig Bragg, 30, of Tennyson Avenue, burgled two town businesses over the recent bank holiday weekend by breaking into a building on King Street and stealing over £1,500 worth of items, including laptops and electricals.

Robin Couzens was jailed for attempting to burn down two shopping centres, including Chantry Place, after committing arsons that targeted these locations.

Matthew Oarton, 39, of no fixed address, was involved in a series of incidents in Norwich between January and July 2024. On January 3, he was found with a machete in a bag and a small amount of cannabis after being spotted outside a home in Kett’s Hill. On May 22, he stole an electric bike from outside a gym in Copenhagen Way. On June 23, he stole a bracelet worth £1,100 from a second-hand shop in St Benedict’s Street and £145 of meat from a shop in Catton Grove Road. CCTV also captured him stealing items, including laundry products and alcohol, from the same shop on two other occasions. He was arrested on August 6 and remanded to court.

On July 7, 2024, a large cannabis farm valued at more than £100,000 was discovered at a property in north Norfolk. Rafal Soltys was arrested at the scene, taken to Aylsham Police Investigation Centre for questioning, and subsequently sentenced.

Hallum Elgood committed a series of shop thefts, stealing items such as pet products, laundry products, and meat from shops in Earlham Green Lane, Lovelace Road, and Colman Road between July 13 and August 9. The total value of stolen items exceeded £1,500. He was caught on CCTV, arrested for breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order, and subsequently sentenced.

Sophie Carter, 26, breached a three-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) and a restraining order just days after it was imposed, following incidents between November 2020 and January 2021 where she attempted to coerce vulnerable residents into giving her money. She was arrested on February 7, 2021, after breaching the order and appeared via videolink to plead guilty.