A man broke into a facility at the Norwich Research Park and took a forklift for a joyride, causing up to £1m in damage. William Start – who is also known as Rocky Start – got inside the John Innes Centre and started up the machine.
The 44-year-old, who co-founded a music events company which worked with Ed Sheeran and received investment from Sir Richard Branson, then drove it around the facility – which is a world-leading centre for plant research – smashing into walls, doors and corridors. Some of the worst damage was caused to the site's controlled environment rooms, which are used for cutting edge tests, where the forklift's prongs pierced the doors.
Start, who was jailed for two years for the joyriding and another offence, gave no explanation for his actions when interviewed by police. King's Lynn Crown Court was told that after carrying out his rampage he left the forklift and turned up at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, which is around half a mile from the John Innes Centre.
Start was escorted out of the hospital after being disruptive but returned a few hours later. Again, he was led from the site by security before turning up a third time, this time to a ward for elderly patients. The defendant, who had blood on the back of his trousers, was then arrested at the hospital's A&E department after it was established he had been involved in the earlier break-in at the John Innes Centre.
Start, of Wherry Road, Norwich, appeared in court this month after he admitted burglary other than dwelling with intent to cause damage. He also admitted breaching an eight month prison sentence, suspended for two years for possession of indecent images of children in 2023. In 2025 he also pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer after threatening them with a candle holder when they were called to his home address. He had threatened to kill the officer, shouting that he was armed and needed to be Tasered.
Start was the co-founder and co-CEO of events company Sofar Sounds, which creates what it says are "secret, intimate gigs in living rooms around the world". In a LinkedIn post announcing his decision to leave in 2019, Start said Ed Sheeran had performed at one of the events and that Sir Richard Branson was an investor. Start said he was leaving as he needed a break after what he described as an "incredible and powerful adventure". A more recent business venture saw him selling ice creams next to Wroxham Bridge. In 2024, he was featured in the EDP after accusing a rival vendor of knocking him out after accusing him of taking his trade.
The court was told his joyride around the John Innes Centre, on December 20, 2025, had caused "extensive damage". Dave Foreman, chief operating officer of the facility, said: "We are grateful to the police for their work on this case. The incident caused extensive damage. However we were able to limit its impact on our research and we are making repairs to the building and equipment."
PC Heather Field, who investigated the case, said: "The level of damage at John Innes Centre was stark, carried out for no apparent reason, the cost of which Start would never be able to compensate for. His sentence goes some way to holding him to account."
The John Innes Centre was founded in 1910 and has evolved from a horticultural institution in Surrey to a world-leading plant and microbial science research centre in Norwich. In July last year, a £317 million redevelopment of the centre was given the green light as part of a joint scheme involving the John Innes Centre and the Sainsbury Laboratory – known as the Next Generation Infrastructure (NGI) programme. It will see existing buildings at the site, some of which have been around since 1967, demolished to make way for a new research facility.
The incident has raised questions about security at the research park. The Norwich Research Park is one of Europe's largest clusters of research and development in plant science, with over 30 organizations including the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and the John Innes Centre. The park is home to more than 12,000 scientists, researchers and support staff. The forklift used in the incident was a standard industrial vehicle normally used for moving heavy equipment and pallets around the facility. It is not known how Start was able to gain access to the vehicle, but the investigation found that he had forced entry to the building through a rear door.
The damage included structural damage to walls, smashed door frames, broken pipes and electrical cables, and extensive damage to the controlled environment chambers. These chambers are critical for growing plants under specific conditions such as temperature, humidity and light levels. The damage could have set back research projects by weeks or months, but staff were able to move some experiments to other chambers. The total cost of repairs is expected to reach close to £1 million, including the cost of replacing equipment and lost research time. The John Innes Centre is a world leader in plant genetics, including work on wheat, barley, peas and brassicas. Its research helps improve crop yields, disease resistance and sustainable agriculture. The centre also collaborates with scientists in over 70 countries.
Start's background as a successful entrepreneur has been a point of contrast with his recent criminal behavior. Sofar Sounds, which stands for Songs from a Room, was launched in 2009 and grew to host events in over 400 cities. The company raised millions from investors including Richard Branson and had partnerships with brands like Spotify. Start left the company in 2019, citing burnout. In 2023, he was convicted of making indecent images of children and received a suspended sentence. Later that year, he was involved in a business dispute with an ice cream seller. In 2025, he assaulted a police officer at his home, leading to further charges. The court heard that he had been diagnosed with mental health issues and had been struggling with substance abuse, but the judge ruled that the seriousness of the offences required a custodial sentence.
The case has sparked debate about how to balance punishment with rehabilitation for offenders with mental health problems. The judge said that the joyride was a "mindless and dangerous act" that could have caused serious injury. He also noted that Start had shown no remorse and had failed to engage with probation services. The sentence of two years in prison means that Start will serve half before being released on license. The court also ordered him to pay a victim surcharge and made a restraining order to prevent him from contacting the police officer he assaulted. The John Innes Centre has since improved its security measures, including installing additional CCTV and access control systems. The incident has also led to a review of security across the Norwich Research Park.
The impact on the scientific community has been significant. Many researchers had to pause their work while the damage was assessed. Some experiments that had been running for months were lost because they could not be transferred quickly enough. The centre has emphasized that its research continues and that it remains committed to its mission. The NGI redevelopment project, which will replace older buildings on the site, is still on track. The new facilities are expected to provide state-of-the-art laboratories and growth chambers that will improve the centre's ability to respond to future challenges. The incident has highlighted the vulnerability of research facilities to vandalism and the importance of robust security. The John Innes Centre's work is central to addressing global food security challenges, and any disruption can have long-term consequences. The centre's response was praised by local scientists, who said that the quick work of staff in limiting damage to research was commendable.
Start's case is now closed, but questions remain about what drove a successful businessman to such irrational behavior. The court heard that Start had been experiencing psychotic episodes and had not been taking prescribed medication. His lawyer argued that he was in need of medical treatment rather than imprisonment. However, the judge concluded that the risk he posed to the public meant that custody was necessary. The case also serves as a reminder of the potential for individuals with hidden struggles to engage in destructive acts, even with no apparent motive. The John Innes Centre has said it will continue to pursue its scientific goals and hopes that the repairs will be completed by the end of the year. The centre's staff have shown resilience and dedication, and they are working to restore the damaged areas as quickly as possible.
Source: Eastern Daily Press News