A woman who killed her friend while driving over the alcohol limit and a Romanian shoplifting gang were among those jailed this week.

Ellie Lambert

Twenty-year-old Ellie Lambert appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday after she was found to be over twice the legal limit when her car crashed into a garage on Thornhill Road in Barham, near Claydon last year.

Lambert admitted causing the death of Bethany McCauley by dangerous driving.

The crash on April 29 last year killed Miss McCauley, a passenger in Lambert's car.

Ipswich Crown Court heard of the trauma caused to Miss McCauley's relatives - her mother Dawn said: "I’ve lost my daughter to the actions of someone supposed to be her friend who I thought would look after her.

“This has caused me absolute heartache and emotional turmoil."

Ancuta-Alexandra Ion, Grama Zorila and Ana Iosif

Romanian gang members jailed for theftRomanian gang members jailed for theft (Image: Norfolk Constabulary) Three Romanian women from a shoplifting gang - Ancuta-Alexandra Ion, Grama Zorila and Ana Iosif - were jailed for a string of shop raids across Norfolk and Suffolk.

The women targeted make-up and beauty counters in several supermarkets and high street stores, including in Bury St Edmunds, Thetford and Kings Lynn.

Norwich Crown Court heard how the gang, also including Denisa-Ionela Simion, stole approximately £38,000 worth of goods.

Ion, Zorila, Iosif and Simion, all from London, appeared in court on Thursday after admitting conspiracy to steal between May 1, 2023, and June 1, 2023.

Stephen Spence, prosecuting, said the raids were part of a "larger and ongoing conspiracy" involving more than just the offences identified as part of the operation which was "planned from start to finish".

Zorila, 31, and Iosif, 28, were both sentenced to 23 months in prison.

Ion, 28, was jailed for 20 months and Simion, 21, received 17 months in prison which was suspended for 24 months.