Peter Walsh

A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of raping a woman near Sandy Lane in Dereham, Norfolk, on July 4. He was questioned and released on bail until September 8. Police increased patrols after the incident and are asking anyone with information to contact Norfolk Constabulary.

A motorist in his 40s remains under investigation nearly four months after a pedestrian was seriously injured in a crash on Prince of Wales Road in Norwich. The driver was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and causing serious injury by careless driving, then released under investigation. The injured man, who was in his 20s, has been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home. Norfolk Constabulary is appealing for witnesses and information.

A forensic pathologist told Norwich Crown Court that Tania Williams, 49, died from hypovolemic shock after suffering multiple slashing and stabbing wounds to her neck. Dr Benjamin Swift said a large 15cm wound damaged her external carotid artery and that she would have rapidly lost consciousness before dying moments later. Prosecutors allege her estranged husband, Raymond Williams, was consumed by jealousy and lay in wait for her after a night out. Williams denies murder, and the trial is continuing.

Kyle Little, 21, of Thetford, was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months after admitting three breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He had previously failed to attend court, saying he could not afford the bus fare, prompting an arrest warrant. The breaches involved deleting information and occurred between July and August of the previous year, while the probation service said his attendance had been very good since the case returned to court in July.

Jedya Matos, 23, has denied two charges of raping a woman in Norwich’s Prince of Wales Road nightclub district on July 5. He appeared by videolink from HMP Peterborough at Norwich Crown Court, where a trial expected to last up to four days was scheduled for February 1. Matos was remanded in custody.

Leeway, a Norfolk-based charity supporting domestic abuse victims in Norfolk and Suffolk, is seeking a female chair of trustees to replace former Norwich lord mayor Brenda Arthur. The voluntary two-year role requires leadership experience, knowledge of the voluntary and public sectors, and commitment to sustaining services for around 17,000 people affected by domestic abuse annually. Applications close on August 28, with interviews to follow.

Prosecutors told Norwich Crown Court that Raymond Williams allegedly sent text messages to his estranged wife, Tania Williams, after she had been found dead and pronounced deceased. The prosecution also presented evidence of Williams’s movements captured on CCTV, including trips around Norwich, discarded clothing, an object placed in a bin and a watch recovered from a drain. Craft-knife packaging allegedly linked to the attack was also found. Williams, 61, denies murdering the 49-year-old mother of four, and the trial is continuing.

Trevor New-Watts, 57, was found guilty at Norwich Crown Court of eight sexual offences against a girl under 13, including two counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, and two offences involving causing or inciting sexual activity. He had denied all charges. New-Watts was remanded in custody, with sentencing scheduled for August 14.

Raymond Williams is on trial at Norwich Crown Court accused of murdering his estranged wife, Tania Williams, whose throat was repeatedly slashed near her home in Thorpe St Andrew. Prosecutor Charles Myatt alleged that Williams had stalked her during a night out, lay in wait for her return and was consumed by jealousy, citing earlier threats to slit her throat and a pattern of controlling behaviour. Williams denies the charge and is expected to argue that he was elsewhere in Norwich when the killing occurred.

Kyle Currie, 24, pleaded not guilty at Norwich Crown Court to allegedly raping a woman in Suffield, Norfolk, on August 30, 2024. The alleged victim cannot be identified for legal reasons. Judge Anthony Bate scheduled a trial expected to last up to six days, beginning on September 25, 2028.

Andrew Collins, 59, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court to three months in jail after admitting offences involving sexual communications with an adult decoy he believed was a 14-year-old girl. Over four months, he sent images of his genitals, made explicit requests and encouraged sexual activity. The judge said his conduct was harmful and motivated by sexual gratification. Collins was also given a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely.

Ricky Minott was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court to an extended 13-year term—10 years in custody and three years on licence—for participating in a premeditated attack and robbery at HMP Wayland in 2019. The victim was assaulted in his cell, suffered severe damage to his nose requiring a skin graft, and was threatened with further violence if he reported the incident. Three other men had denied charges, but the prosecution offered no evidence against them. The judge described Minott as a secondary party who nevertheless participated in the joint attack.

Shwan Abubaker, 49, of Derby, pleaded guilty at King's Lynn Crown Court to possessing 200kg of foreign-branded tobacco with fraudulent intent in Great Yarmouth on or before December 20, 2023. He also faced a charge involving £36,440 in alleged criminal property, which he had previously denied, but the prosecution accepted his plea. He will be sentenced on August 26 after a pre-sentence report is prepared.

Ridell Nazaj, 35, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court to 20 months in prison after police found 10kg of cannabis worth about £100,000 and £1,600 in cash in his car near Thetford. He admitted possession with intent to supply, possession of criminal property and driving while disqualified. Judge Andrew Shaw said a previous cannabis conviction had not deterred him and stressed that sentences should deter people from entering the UK illegally to commit offences. Nazaj’s barrister argued that he was a low-level participant coerced by a criminal gang and sought credit for his guilty pleas.

A man in his 40s remains hospitalized more than three weeks after a serious assault on Castle Street in Norwich. Police established a cordon and began inquiries, while a man in his 30s was arrested the same day. Dane Culyer, 37, has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent and producing cannabis, and is scheduled to appear at Norwich Crown Court on July 27.

Six men who admitted involvement in a cocaine supply conspiracy in Norwich have had sentencing dates set at Norwich Crown Court. Albert Piska and Bekim Spahiu will be sentenced on August 6, with Seyed Houssaini, Hekuran Allarj and Raees Anwar scheduled for August 13, and Muhammed Muhammadi for September 4. All defendants remain in custody.