A man who hit his victim over the head with a claw hammer in an “unprovoked incident” and a trio who stole jewellery from a shop were among those jailed in Suffolk this week.

Martin Quince

Martin QuinceMartin Quince (Image: Suffolk Police)

Martin Quince was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court after being convicted of grievous bodily harm, possession of drugs and an offensive weapon. 

Quince, 43, of Market Place in Mildenhall, hit his victim over the head with a claw hammer in an “unprovoked incident”, Judge Martyn Levett said.

The victim had been arguing in the street with his wife and was confronted by another man who told him never to hit a woman before Quince got involved.

A witness, who can't be named, told the court the victim had fallen to the ground after Quince struck him and the attacker had said: “If he isn’t dead, I will make sure next time.”

He was jailed for 10 years, with an extended licence period of five years.

David Hawthorne 

David Hawthorne David Hawthorne (Image: Suffolk Police)

David Hawthorne was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court this week after he pleaded guilty to coercive control in a charge relating to a woman he was in a relationship with.

Hawthorne, of Lilac Drive in Lowestoft, had used a screwdriver to seal the windows in his flat to prevent his partner from leaving, the court heard.

The court was told the 45-year-old would drink heavily and “push her about" while the woman was particularly vulnerable at this time, having sustained a neck fracture.

Meanwhile, in September, Hawthorne was also again caught driving and charged with driving in accordance with a licence, driving without appropriate insurance and driving under the influence of drug.

He was given a total sentence of 38 months with his driving and driving while disqualified and coercive control offences running concurrently. 

Radu Niculescu, Loredana Sava and Loredana Sava

Radu Niculescu, Loredana Sava and Loredana SavaRadu Niculescu, Loredana Sava, 31, and Loredana Sava, 35 (Image: Suffolk Police)
Radu Niculescu, 29, and two women both named Loredana Sava, 31 and 35, were jailed after appearing remotely at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday.

The court heard that the three, all formerly of Pembroke Avenue in Luton and Romanian nationals, happened to be in Bury St Edmunds on February 17 this year when they stole from Romark Jewellers in Abbeygate Street in the spur of the moment.

Judge Kelly rejected this explanation as “utterly fanciful” and said each of the defendants had a “terrible” record for dishonest offences in the UK and overseas. 

Judge Kelly sentenced the elder Sava to a period of 33 months in custody, reduced to 22 months in light of her early guilty plea.

Niculescu was given three years, which likewise was reduced to two and the younger Sava was also sentenced to three years, which was reduced to 27 months and then to 20, considering her caring responsibilities.