A Hadleigh 21-year-old who launched a "violent" attack on a married couple and a man who "rugby tackled" a cyclist, leaving him with serious injuries, were among those sentenced to time in prison this week.

Four Suffolk men have received sentences totalling more than four-and-a-half years after committing a list of crimes in the county and elsewhere in the UK.

So why were they jailed and how long for?

Darren Shaw

%image(15141563, type="article-full", alt="Darren Shaw was sentenced to 30 weeks at Ipswich Crown Court")

The 40-year-old, of Sudbury, admitted causing actual bodily harm to his partner and has been jailed for 30 weeks.

Shaw appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday via prison video link and denied a charge of GBH - but pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm.

The court heard that police found a victim bleeding from a head wound and suffering from right hand and side pain.

Andrew Thompson, prosecuting, told the court that following a verbal argument, Shaw had grabbed the victim by the back of her neck.

He then held her head towards the internal brick wall, causing the injuries to her head, Mr Thompson said.

Judge Emma Peters sentenced Shaw to 30 weeks' imprisonment. A separate assault charge was left on file.

Krystian Dwojak

%image(14521343, type="article-full", alt="Krystian Dwojak was jailed for 16 months at Ipswich Crown Court")

Krystian Dwojak was slammed by the judge for "one of the worst pieces of dangerous driving" he had seen in "a very long time".

The 30-year-old, of Larling, near Thetford, was jailed for 16 months by Judge Rupert Overbury for a spell of "terrifying and prolonged" dangerous driving in Huddersfield.

Dashcam footage from a police pursuit showed Dwojak driving at speeds of 70mph in a 30mph zone, and up to 95mph in a 40mph zone.

He drove through a number of red lights and the police chase only came to an end when Dwojak crashed into a Mini.

The Mini driver was taken to hospital having suffered broken ribs, a burst eardrum, whiplash and concussion, the court heard.

Judge Overbury sentenced Dwojak to 16 months' imprisonment. He will have to serve half in custody before being released on licence.

He was also banned from driving for three years and seven months and must take an extended retest before he is able to drive again.

Ross Myhill

%image(14521008, type="article-full", alt="Ross Myhill was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court for rugby tackling a cyclist from his bike")

The 41-year-old was jailed after leaving a cyclist with serious injuries by running at him "at pace" and rugby tackling him off his bike.

Myhill was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday after the victim suffered a fractured femur and broken hip, which had to be pinned by doctors at the hospital.

Jerry Hayes, prosecuting, told the court that the attack happened in the afternoon near the Joseph Conrad pub in London Road, Lowestoft.

In a victim personal statement, the cyclist said that despite 12 weeks of physiotherapy, he still needed a stick to aid his walking.

He added he was more housebound now, and that the injuries had been "life-changing".

Judge Overbury jailed Myhill for 14 months, and he will have to serve half of that sentence in custody before being released on licence.

Judge Overbury also ordered Myhill to pay the victim compensation of £700.

Thomas Thorby

%image(15141564, type="article-full", alt="Thomas Thorby was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court for the "violent" attack")

The 21-year-old Hadleigh man has been jailed for a "violent" attack on a married couple.

Thorby was branded a "mindless thug" by Judge Rupert Overbury in court on Wednesday, after he was prosecuted for attacking a couple while they were walking home in Hadleigh in December 2019.

The court heard how Thorby approached the couple before kicking the man in the head.

He tried to get up, but Thorby continued to kick him, and his wife was screaming for Thorby to stop.

The husband suffered a split lip, requiring eight stitches, and cuts and bruising to his face and head.

Victim impact statements from the couple were read in court, and the husband said he thought he "was going to die".

In her statement, the wife said her memory of the incident was still vivid and she was left "traumatised".

Judge Overbury jailed Thorby for a total of 18 months. He will have to serve half of the sentence in custody before he is released on licence.