Lowestoft – Men jailed in connection with aggravated burglary

Richard Aldous & Benjamin Newcombe

Two men have been jailed for a combined total of more than 11 years following an aggravated burglary in Lowestoft last year.

Richard Aldous, aged 44, and Benjamin Newcombe, aged 40, appeared before Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 29 November, where they were sentenced to eight-years’ imprisonment and 40 months’ imprisonment respectively.

Aldous, of Lea Lane, Witham in Essex, had pleaded guilty to the offences of aggravated burglary and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He was jailed for seven years and seven months for the aggravated burglary and received a six-month concurrent sentence for the possession of an offensive weapon.

In addition, Aldous had also pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm relating to a separate incident, for which he received a five-month consecutive prison term and a five-month concurrent term. This brought his total prison sentence to eight-years.

Newcombe, of Alexandra Street, Thurmaston in Leicestershire, had pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment. He also admitted permitting his premises to be used for the production of cannabis for which he received a six-month concurrent prison sentence.

The burglary incident occurred at approximately 4pm on Saturday 2 December 2023 at a house in Beccles Road.

The victim, a 30-year-old man, was upstairs in the bedroom when he heard a window smash downstairs. He went to the top of the stairs to investigate where he was confronted by Aldous – who was known to him – and Newcombe, who he did not recognise.

Newcombe grabbed the victim around the throat and tried to push him into the bedroom, which he resisted. Aldous then succeeded in pushing him into the bedroom and shouted that he owed him £100.

The victim was then punched twice in the face by Newcombe, before Aldous attempted to hit him in the face with a wrench which the victim managed to block with his wrist, but he was then hit in the back with the wrench instead.

Newcombe then took the victim’s watch, necklace and bracelet and also stole his girlfriend’s mobile phone, before the pair made off from the address.

The victim sustained reddening to his face and back and the marking on his back was consistent with the outline of a wrench.

It was established that prior to the incident Aldous had been at a nearby pub, which was corroborated by CCTV enquiries. Newcombe was also seen in the CCTV and was positively identified by detectives.

Aldous was located by police at a flat in London Road South five days later (on 7 December) and was arrested. Aldous was found in possession of the keys for a vehicle and a logbook was found at the address for a Peugeot van. Officers located this van near to the road where he was arrested and during a search of it they recovered tools that resembled those used to commit the burglary.

Items of jewellery were also found during the search of the address and these were subsequently identified by the victim as his property.

Aldous was charged on 8 December and made his first appearance at court the following day.

Efforts continued to locate Newcombe and he was arrested on 6 March in Leicester and charged the following morning, appearing at court later the same day.

The two counts of assault that Aldous was also convicted of occurred at a public house in Mill Road, Lowestoft, on 7 May 2023, and involved Aldous punching and biting a man and also punching and biting a woman who tried to intervene.

Detective Constable Sophie Moore, of East CID in Lowestoft, said: “This was a violent burglary against the victim in his home, who was not only punched in the face but also struck with a wrench.

“The fact that Aldous has also been convicted of two counts of assault, clearly demonstrates that he is a violent individual and our streets are undoubtedly safer with him locked up.

“The sentences handed down reflect the seriousness of the crimes and we are particularly pleased with the eight years’ imprisonment handed to Aldous, which is a significant jail term for these offences.”