Simon Parkin

Matas Norkus, 23, has pleaded not guilty at Norwich Crown Court to causing the death by dangerous driving of 74-year-old John Sloan. Sloan died after being struck by Norkus's BMW 530i at the junction of St James Road and Blackfriars Street in King's Lynn in August 2024. Norkus was granted unconditional bail, with a four-day trial scheduled at King's Lynn Crown Court for July 5 next year. The inquest into Sloan's death remains adjourned pending the conclusion of the police investigation and court proceedings.

The defence of Raymond Williams, accused of murdering his estranged wife Tania Williams in Thorpe St Andrew, told Norwich Crown Court that the prosecution case was an “elaborate guessing game” lacking direct evidence. Stephen Rose KC highlighted the absence of eyewitnesses, CCTV of the killing and alleged inconsistencies in witness accounts. Prosecutors allege Williams was motivated by jealousy, lay in wait for Tania, drove to her home and later disposed of his clothing after the stabbing. Williams has declined to give evidence, and the trial continues.

Nichola Webster, 54, has pleaded not guilty at Norwich Crown Court to intentionally impeding the police investigation and helping Cherrie Raby and Daniel Marsden evade apprehension after they stabbed a cancer survivor six times with a broken wine bottle in Norwich. Raby and Marsden were previously jailed for four years and 12 months respectively. Webster was granted bail subject to conditions and is due to stand trial in August 2027. Co-defendant Sam Muroni remains wanted after failing to attend an earlier hearing.

Irandeep Malli, 36, avoided prison after pleading guilty to threatening a security guard at the Troll Cart, a Wetherspoon pub in Great Yarmouth, while already serving a suspended 17-month sentence for threatening a sex worker and her boyfriend with a knife. Norwich Crown Court heard that Malli threatened to kill the guard after being ejected over an allegation that he slapped a woman. Recorder Rhys Davies declined to activate the suspended sentence because Malli had made significant progress on community requirements, but ordered 120 additional hours of unpaid work and imposed a two-year restraining order.

Lisa Duerden, 48, pleaded guilty at Norwich Crown Court to causing serious injury by careless driving after a collision on the A1075 near Watton left three people hospitalised. A woman in her 60s suffered multiple life-threatening injuries. Duerden had previously denied the charge, was given an interim driving ban, and will be sentenced after an updated medical assessment of the victim’s ongoing injuries.

Trainee soldier Jack McTavish, 20, pleaded guilty at Norwich Crown Court to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl on a bus in Brooke after befriending her at a bus stop. CCTV helped police identify him after the girl told her father. McTavish lost his place at a military preparation college and was placed on the sex offender register. A judge ordered a pre-sentence report and ruled out a prison sentence ahead of sentencing on September 29.

Peter Bell, a registered sex offender from Norwich, appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court accused of grooming a 14-year-old girl and encouraging her to engage in sexual activity. Prosecutors allege he used secret online identities, messaging apps, a VPN and the Tor browser in breach of a sexual harm prevention order. Bell faces eight charges, entered no pleas, and was granted conditional bail ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Norwich Crown Court on September 4.

Anna Lupu, 29, pleaded guilty at Norwich Magistrates’ Court to fraud by false representation and dishonestly failing to report a change in circumstances affecting her Universal Credit. She falsely claimed to be the sole adult occupant of her home while living with her husband, receiving £653 in council tax support and additional Universal Credit. She will be sentenced on August 27 and may face a confiscation order to recover the money. Norwich City Council investigated 2,882 council tax irregularities last year and identified 27 fraud cases worth £65,525.

Elliot Brooke, a 19-year-old former St John Ambulance volunteer from Martham, pleaded guilty at Norwich Magistrates’ Court to making and possessing indecent images of children, including 45 Category A, 48 Category B and 31 Category C images. Sentencing was adjourned to September 9 while a pre-sentence report considers options including custody, a suspended sentence or a community order. Brooke is subject to internet restrictions and interim notification requirements; the court also heard he had messaged children, though he faces no communications charge.

Laura Ibbot, 51, pleaded guilty at Norwich Magistrates' Court to causing serious injury by careless driving after clipping a moped rider on the Martineau Lane roundabout near County Hall. The rider suffered two fractured vertebrae, a prolapsed disc, intense pain and reduced mobility. Ibbot said she had misjudged the roundabout, while her solicitor argued the manoeuvre was not deliberate or dangerous. She was fined £500 and banned from driving for 12 months.

Micah Brown, 40, has pleaded not guilty at Norwich Magistrates’ Court to allegedly using a mobile phone to film women under their clothing without consent for sexual gratification. The alleged incidents took place in Norwich’s nightlife district in May and June 2025. A trial preparation hearing is scheduled at Norwich Crown Court on August 28, while his defence seeks CCTV and mobile phone evidence. Brown was released on unconditional bail.

Bonnie Brittain, 19, pleaded guilty at Norwich Magistrates' Court to misusing a public communications network after making numerous prank 999 calls claiming there was a dead body, threatening to kill people and falsely saying she had an AK-47. She also admitted damaging a neighbour's car with a hammer in a separate mistaken-identity incident. Brittain received a 12-month community order with alcohol treatment and rehabilitation requirements and was ordered to pay £363 in compensation.