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Knife-wielding robbers threaten staff and steal cash in third Ipswich Co-op raid this year

News

Two knife-wielding suspects robbed a Co-op store in east Ipswich on Monday night, marking the third such incident in the town this year.

The big picture: Suffolk police are appealing for witnesses after two suspects, believed to be carrying knives, threatened staff and stole cash and stamps from the Co-op on Ravenswood at 21:20 BST on Monday.

Details of the latest incident:

  • Two suspects wearing balaclavas entered the store

  • They were believed to be carrying knives

  • Cash was stolen from the till, along with a tin containing stamps

  • The suspects fled towards the Ravenswood estate

  • Staff were shaken but uninjured

Co-op on Ravenswood
Cash was stolen from the Co-op on RavenswoodOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

Previous incidents:

  • 20 August: Four masked offenders stole cigarettes, scratch cards, and cash from the East of England Co-operative Foodstore on Clapgate Lane.

  • 25 April: Two men, one reportedly armed with a crowbar and the other with a knife, robbed the Co-op on Clapgate Lane, stealing numerous products, including cigarettes.

What's next: An investigation is underway, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward, quoting crime reference 37/54337/24. They can contact Suffolk Police via:

The bottom line: Although there is no known link between the incidents, the repeated targeting of Co-op stores in Ipswich suggests a concerning pattern. Anyone with information about any of these incidents should contact the police.

Serial waste offender faces High Court action after decades of illegal dumping

News

A man previously convicted of allowing cocaine production on his land has been ordered to stop illegal waste disposal activities at the same site, following multiple failed prosecutions over 20 years.

Why it matters: The case highlights how persistent offenders can continue environmental crimes despite repeated prosecutions, forcing councils to pursue expensive High Court action, often at the taxpayer's expense.

The big picture: Paul Arthur Fenton, 59, of Hadleigh, has been prosecuted four times since 2001 for illegal waste activities at Flowton Pit. Despite these convictions, the illegal dumping continued, leading Suffolk County Council to seek a High Court injunction.

Illegal waste dumped at the site in Flowton, near Ipswich
Paul Fenton has been ordered to stop illegal waste disposal activities at the site in Flowton, near IpswichSuffolk County Council

Details:

  • The High Court has now ordered Fenton to cease all waste disposal at the Flowton Road site

  • He must remove all waste materials within three months, by 27 November 2024

  • Fenton did not respond to pre-action letters or attend the court hearing

  • The site has previously been linked to criminal activity, with Fenton convicted of allowing it to be used for cocaine production

What they're saying: "We will not stand for the actions of people like Mr Fenton, whose behaviour is wholly selfish with no regard for others," said Councillor Chris Chambers, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Transport Strategy, Planning and Waste.

Illegal waste dumped at the site in Flowton, near Ipswich
The High Court has now ordered Fenton to cease all waste disposal at the Flowton Road siteSuffolk County Council

Impact on community:

  • Local businesses affected by unfair competition from illegal disposal

  • Environmental damage, including possible destruction of badger setts

  • Disruption to rural and residential areas

  • Impact on local access routes

The bottom line: Despite two decades of enforcement action, it took a High Court injunction to finally force action at this problematic waste site, highlighting the challenges authorities face in stopping persistent environmental offenders.

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