A 21-year-old man who carried out unprovoked attacks and a burglary in Norwich has been jailed for 15 years.

Kurt Nelson of Hassett Close in the city appeared at Norwich Crown Court today, Thursday 21 June 2018, after pleading guilty to two counts of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and one count of burglary following incidents in September and October last year.

The burglary occurred on 8 September when Nelson broke into an address on Drayton Road by smashing a rear window and stole items including a laptop, TV and a car key-card.

The second incident happened on 25 September around 6pm, when Nelson approached a group of youths in a park at Ketts Cave in the city before stabbing a 16-year-old boy in the stomach with a knife. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment, where he remained for two weeks with a collapsed lung and internal bleeding.

The final incident occurred on 17 October around 10.30pm on Magdalen Road. An 18-year-old man was walking with friends when he heard someone shout “man with a knife.” The victim turned around and was attacked by Nelson who pulled a machete from his waistband and slashed him across the face. The victim needed hospital treatment after sustaining a 3inch wound just below his eye.

Detective Inspector Chris Burgess, from Norwich CID, said: “The sentence handed down today reflects the seriousness of the offences Nelson has committed.
“He displayed a willingness to resort to violence using knives and I have no doubt that his actions have had a significant lasting impact on his victims.
“I hope today’s sentence offers them a form of closure and demonstrates we will do all we can to bring those responsible of violent crimes like this to justice.”