Criminals sentenced in Norfolk week beginning March 4 2024

Phillip Dennis

On July 31, 2023, Phillip Dennis, 74, punched his 36-year-old son Steven and dislocated his shoulder as the pair grappled on the floor following a confrontation at the family home. 

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told his son, who lived at home, had accused him of tampering with some cheese and of trying to kill him. 

Dennis, of Cromer Road in Overstrand, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Magistrates sentenced him to eight weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months after being told he was unsuitable for a community punishment. 

He was also ordered to pay his son £300 compensation. 

Graeme Harrison

Harrison was jailed for eight years (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

Graeme Harrison, 40, was on the drink-drive limit and had traces of cocaine in his system when he overtook a lorry on the A143 in October 2021.

Norwich Crown Court heard he was driving his wife's Mercedes car at Fritton, near Great Yarmouth, having gone to a late-night garage to buy some cigarettes when he attempted a "dangerous overtake" of the HGV lorry on the brow of a hill.

Chris Youell, prosecuting, said Jonathan Watson, 50, a front seat passenger in the van, was pulled from the vehicle but died shortly after he arrived at the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston.

Harrison, formerly of Reeve Way in Wymondham, appeared in court on Thursday to be sentenced after admitting causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

Jailing him for eight years, Judge Andrew Shaw said Harrison had been "solely responsible for the catastrophic collision" which resulted in the death of Mr Watson.

John Sturgess and Jaideenna Graham

Brother and sister Sturgess, 37, and Graham, 24, were caught by police after a car was stolen from a driveway in Walpole St Andrew.

The car was recovered and further enquiries linked the pair to a burglary in King’s Lynn last August and a burglary at Wells Congregational Church on August 24.

Both appeared at Norwich Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday.

Sturgess, of Chalk Roadin Wisbech, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, suspended for two years.

He was also handed a 12-month driving ban and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work after admitting to three counts of burglary, two counts of theft, one of fraud, one count of possessing a Class B drug and one count of driving while disqualified.

Graham, also of Chalk Road in Wisbech, was given an 18-month community order, 20 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and ordered to undertake a mental health treatment requirement for 12 months.

She admitted to three counts of burglary, three of theft, and one count of possessing a class B drug.

Liam Pitt

Liam Pitt (inset) who appeared at Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

On August 27, 2022, Pitt, then 19, had been playing drinking games at Bar One in Gorleston and went out into its backyard to be sick.

He did so in front of another man who told him he should be vomiting in the toilet.

Pitt, who was holding a glass at the time, told the man: "You're lucky I was not sick in your face."

He then punched the man in the face, smashing the glass, before kneeing him in the face up to four times after he fell.

The victim needed eight stitches from his neck to his ear.

Pitt, 21, of Cory Drive in Oulton Broad, appeared at Norwich Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday and was given 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, ordered to undertake 100 hours unpaid work, a 120-day alcohol abstinence requirement and 20 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR).

He was also ordered to pay the victim £1,200 in compensation as well as £150 towards costs.