Jailed in November 2024: Criminals locked up in Suffolk

Francois Havenga

Francois Havenga was sentenced to 15 years (Image: Suffolk police) Francois Havenga, 44, from the Norwich area, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on November 8 after he was previously found guilty of raping a schoolgirl and of careless driving in Ipswich.

The mother of the girl said that the victim would cry herself to sleep and is now "not comfortable with being cuddled" following the attack.

The court heard that when the defendant was suspected raping the child, he sent a text message saying he was sorry and that he was “going to carry on driving until he ran out of road”.

Police were then alerted and officers tried to stop Havenga on the A140 but he sped off and allegedly drove dangerously on the A140 and in Ipswich, before decamping from his car and fleeing on foot.

Judge David Wilson gave Havenga a 12-year determinate custodial sentence with three years on extended licence, meaning the defendant will serve at least eight years in prison.

Sonnie Bishop-Browne

Sonnie Bishop-Browne, 21, of Newmarket, was sentenced to three years (Image: Suffolk police) Just before 6pm on April 10, four men including Sonnie Bishop-Browne, 21, arrived in Market Square in Newmarket in hoods before pursuing a man through the town centre, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

Bishop-Browne reached inside the front of his trousers before pulling out a “large knife” and making lunging stabbing motions at the victim, who fell to the floor, Judge David Wilson said.

Bishop-Browne, of Dick Perryman Court, Newmarket, then fled with the group on a moped and the victim was taken to hospital and underwent five blood transfusions but did not suffer lasting injuries.

Judge Wilson described the attack as “cowardly and brutal” and sentenced Bishop-Browne, who admitted wounding with intent, to three years behind bars.

Aimee Haywood-Rutter

Aimee Haywood-Rutter, 28, of London Road, was jailed for four years (Image: Suffolk police) Aimee Haywood-Rutter, 28, of London Road, Lowestoft, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court after admitting four counts of burglary and fraud by false representation, along with breaching a suspended sentence.

Her first victim, a 74-year-old woman who requires a mobility scooter and is almost entirely blind in one eye, she deceived by telling her she had crashed and required help before stealing her handbag. 

Meanwhile, a 77-year-old man from Lowestoft was also a victim, as she walked into his house by asking to use his toilet before stealing his wallet. 

In mitigation, the court heard the defendant was motivated by her addiction to class A drugs and was in a “toxic” relationship.

She was sentenced to four years in prison by Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley.

Etmont Karitsi

Etmont Karitsi was jailed for 16 months (Image: Suffolk police) Etmont Karitsi, a Greek national of no fixed abode, was stopped by police in Newmarket while driving a blue Renault Clio in July.

When the car was searched, police found two hollow vapes containing 12 small bags of cocaine.

Karitsi's phone was also seized which led officers to an address where more than £15,000 of cash and significant quantities of cocaine were found.

Karitsi, 18, gave no comment during police interviews but pleaded guilty to possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.

At Ipswich Crown Court, Recorder Jeremy Benson KC imposed a 16-month jail sentence, which was reduced from the three-year starting point because of the defendant’s age and prompt guilty plea.

William Denham

William Denham, of Colchester, was jailed for four and a half years (Image: Suffolk police) Judge Emma Peters described the actions of 44-year-old William Denham as “horrific, depraved, sadistic and cruel” and motivated by sexual jealousy as he appeared at Ipswich Crown Court for sentencing.

The court heard how Denham, of St Andrew's Avenue, Colchester, had bombarded his partner, who had been on a night out with work colleagues, with messages and video calls threatening to kill her rabbits and burn her house down.

When she didn’t respond he sent her pictures of the dead rabbits he had killed and said: “You and your boyfriend are next", before sending a video of a burning curtain in their house. 

When the victim got home she tried to put out the fire with glass jug of water but Denham hit her over the head with it and repeatedly punched her in the head.

She then managed to flee from the house and hid behind a bush before going to a neighbour’s house.

Denham was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, banned from contacting his ex-partner indefinitely and disqualified from owning any animals indefinitely.