Norwich pair jailed for seven years for multiple offences

A pair of robbers have been jailed for a combined total of seven years for a string of offences including assault and possession of knives.

Joshua Cram, 21, of Ten Bell Court, Norwich, and Jake Staff, 32 of Cannell Green, Norwich, appeared at Norwich Crown Court on Friday where they were handed three years and four years respectively.

They both admitted to robbery at an earlier hearing and Staff admitted to additional charges of possessing a knife on March 14, 2024, theft from shop, assault, and three counts of assaulting an emergency worker on August 15, 2024.

Cram was also sentenced for a charge of possessing a bladed article on December 30, 2023, in Prince of Wales Road.

The robbery incident happened on September 23 last year, between 12.35am and 12.45am in the city’s Magdalen Street.

Staff initially went into a fast-food outlet asking for free food with Cram waiting outside on a pedal bike.

They were said to have ‘caused a scene’ and were asked to leave.

The victim, who was in the shop ordering food at the time, was approached by the pair in the street.

When he refused to give them the food he was made to empty his pockets. He noted a knife fell to the floor as he did as he was asked, and also that the male on the bike was carrying a pole/baton.

After they took his phone, vape, and food he approached a member of the public and used their phone to call police.

The suspects were quickly identified and arrested a few hours later in Cannell Green.

While in custody they engaged with Operation Converter, the unit that investigates further, similar crimes that suspects are believed to have committed.

Cram asked for four other incidents to be taken into consideration by the court at sentencing.

They were a robbery in Colegate on September 4 last year, which Staff also admitted to, an assault on August 28, 2024, theft and common assault on July 23, 2023, and shoplifting in July 2024.

As well as the Colegate robbery Staff admitted to shoplifting on September 18, 2024, a robbery at a property in Music House Lane on September 10, 2024, shoplifting on August 25, 2024, and another shoplifting incident in Cromer dating back to April 21, 2018.

Cram’s sentence will be served in a Young Offenders Institution.

Duncan Etchells, staff supervisor for Operation Converter said: "Stealing from people as they go about their ordinary business is not something we will tolerate in our city. Fortunately they were both quickly identified, arrested, and further investigated after the robbery securing these sentences.

"I hope both of these men will take the time they now have on their hands to think about their actions."