Five criminals jailed in Norfolk in week starting May 27

Paul Knights

Paul Knights, 38, of Bishop Bridge House in Norwich, admitted to six charges and appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

These charges related to two breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), two breaches of a restraining order, one count of robbery and one of assault.

The CBO was imposed on October 26, 2021, to prevent his public use of butane gas and a restraining order was imposed on July 3, 2023, banning him from B&M in Riverside Retail Park.

The robbery charge related to an incident on October 17 last year when he pushed and punched a shop worker to get behind the counter and take a gas canister worth £3.90.

He also admitted to assaulting a support worker on October 10, 2023, when he was said to be annoyed at having to collect his medication daily.

Luke Alia

Luke Alia (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

Police became suspicious after spotting Luke Alia, 30, on an e-bike in an area of Great Yarmouth known for drug dealing. 

Norwich Crown Court was told officers had followed him to a terraced house in Exmouth Road on December 6 last year which was discovered to be used to prepare and package cocaine. 

A seized phone showed Alia had been running a “busy operation” with dozens of messages discussing prices for drug wraps and amounts owed by customers, said prosecutors.

He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and was jailed for two years and nine months. 

John Taylor

John Taylor, 42, dishonestly billed vulnerable homeowners over a two-week period in November 2021 and even talked them into loaning him £8,000 to buy a new van.

The cowboy builder charged the elderly couple more than £42,000 for work that was either shoddy or unfinished.

They told the court they had been left “angry, devastated and very upset” and had felt intimidated by Taylor and his unskilled workers. 

Taylor, of Elizabeth Crescent in Holt, had initially denied charges including fraudulent trading but later pleaded guilty to two counts of theft. 

He was jailed for 20 months and had a five-year court order limiting his ability to operate as a builder imposed on him.

Andrew Gunby

Andrew Gunby (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

Andrew Gunby allowed his home and bank account to be used for a crack cocaine ring run by a father and son.

Jeremy Folkard, 49, and his 25-year-old son Rhys were arrested in a police raid at a house belonging to Gunby in Costessey following reports it was being used as a base for street dealing.

Phones seized in the police operation showed financial transactions into Gunby's bank account and messages urging drug buyers to “pay Andy”.  

Gunby, 37, of Kost Road, Costessey, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Jailing him for three years, Judge Anthony Bate told him: “You were an important part of an operation that was controlled overall by Jeremy Folkard.”

Jeremy Folkard, who was found with a bag full of cocaine when he was arrested at Gunby’s house, was previously jailed for four-and-a-half years.

He had been on bail at the time in connection with another drug dealing operation in 2021 run from Tottington Close in Bowthorpe.

His son was sentenced to 21 months, suspended for 18 months, due to the “limited extent of his criminality”.

Benjamin Harding

Benjamin Harding, 35, of Ducksen Road in Stowmarket, was caught stealing items - primarily alcoholic drinks and food - from a petrol station in Costessey on February 21 and April 28

He was arrested on May 25 in connection with the thefts and was found in possession of amphetamine, a controlled Class B drug.

He appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court on May 27 and pleaded guilty to two counts of shoplifting and one count of possessing a controlled class B drug.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge.