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Latest news Pair charged over Jewellery Quarter street robbery 09/05/2017 West Midlands Police detectives have charged two men over an attempted robbery during which a man was shot in the arm. Tyann McCooty and Damel Lebert are accused of trying to snatch jewellery from a group of three men in Northwood Street, Birmingham, at around 5.45pm on Sunday (May 7). It’s alleged that during the attack a firearm was brandished and a 26-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the arm. He remains in hospital having undergone surgery; his injury is not life threatening. McCooty (21) from Honeswode Close in Handsworth and 20-year-old Lebert, from Shepherds Gardens in Fiveway…

Latest news Fake Ugg boots trickster convicted of trademark violation 08/05/2017 A man who sold fake Ugg boots from a Birmingham shopping centre − conning shoppers in the run up to Christmas − has been hit with a court fine after being convicted of trademark violations. Scott Sutton opened a unit in The Pavillions on Christmas Eve 2014 and lured customers in with branding identical to that used by the iconic Aussie bootmaker, plus an eye-catching 70 per cent discount offer. He sold pairs at £50 each − all cash purchases as Sutton rejected card payments − during a four-day sales spree before officers acted on concerns raised by a city centre PCSO to move in and …

Latest news Police issue an alert after two men pose as police officers 08/05/2017 Police are alerting members of the public to an unmarked law enforcement car with blue lights which has been travelling across the West Midlands area. Two men in the vehicle have been posing as police officers and have flagged at least one vehicle down. The woman driver was asked to get into the one series silver BMW; fortunately she refused and reported the matter straight away to police. The vehicle was stolen from an address in Solihull on Saturday 6 May between 5-11pm. Detective Chief Inspector Craig Underwood from Solihull Police said: "We are asking anyone who sees this vehic…

Latest news UPDATE - Man charged after body found in Brierley Hill 08/05/2017 A Dudley man has been charged in connection with the death of a teenage girl after her body was found in Brierley Hill on Thursday (4 May). Following Crown Prosecution Service consideration of the case at this early stage, unemployed Ashley Foster, aged 24 of Highgate Road, was charged yesterday with preventing a burial and will appear before Dudley magistrates today (8 May). Although formal identification is yet to take place the victim is strongly believed to be 17-year-old Megan Louise Bills from Stourbridge. Megan’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by family l…

Latest news Police given more time to question murder suspect 06/05/2017 Police have been granted extra time to question a man arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of a woman was found at a property in Brierley Hill on Thursday (4 May). The 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder at 5.45pm on Thursday evening. He remains in police custody. An extension to question him for a further 36 hours was granted by Walsall Magistrates' Court today. Detective Inspector Caroline Corfield, from Force CID, said: “Efforts to inform the family and formally identify the woman are currently on-going and we are not in a position to release any further details …

Latest news Appeal to help trace missing Birmingham man 06/05/2017 Police are searching for a Birmingham man who has not been seen since yesterday morning. Officers are deeply concerned for the health and safety of 40-year-old Jason Wood. Jason who is from the Handsworth area has never been missing before and there are concerns for the state of his mental health at this moment in time. He was last seen yesterday (5 May) at around 11.55am when he attended an appointment with support workers in Handsworth and has not been seen or heard from since. He is described as a white man, 5ft 9ins tall and slim. He has cropped untidy blonde hair and was last seen wearing blu…

Latest news Teens convicted of car-jack spree after WMP investigation 05/05/2017 A gang of teenage friends who carried out a series of violent car-jackings in Birmingham have been sentenced to almost 12 years at youth offenders institutes. The six-strong group – three 15-year-olds, two 16-year-olds and one aged 17 – struck 14 times in less than a month, threatening motorists with knives and a firearm before making off with their vehicles. Examination of phones seized from the teen robbers revealed chat groups used to plan and boast about offences, suggestions on where to hide evidence and what to steal. One message read how they planned to “suck a whip” – street…

Latest news Father and son jailed for their part in the murder of Ronald Smith 05/05/2017 The father and brother of a convicted murderer have been jailed for conspiring to rob the victim and helping the killer cover his tracks in the days after the fatal stabbing. Paul Cooke was jailed for almost 30 years last September for a knife attack that led to the death of 64-year-old Ronald Smith at his West Bromwich home on 6 May 2015 – the day after he was released from prison. Callous Cooke swiped £600 in cash from the Cottage Walk address and locked the door with a key as he made off in the hope the body would lie undetected. A neighbour raised the alarm almost four we…

Latest news Two teenagers arrested following Halesowen machete attack 05/05/2017 Two 16-year-old boys have been arrested by officers in connection with a machete attack outside The Crown pub in Halesowen on Saturday 25 March. Officers were called to Carters Lane just after 1.15am following reports of a disorder outside the pub. A 22-year-old man was attacked with a machete, causing serious injuries, and was taken to hospital for treatment. He continues to make a steady recovery. Police launched an appeal and released video footage in a bid to track down the offenders. Following information received from members of the public, officers attended two separate addres…

Latest news Man arrested after body found in Brierley Hill 05/05/2017 A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of a woman was found at a property in Brierley Hill yesterday (Thursday 4 May). The discovery was made in a property just after 11.30am in Highgate Road and the area was immediately sealed off for forensic examination. Officers are now trying to identify the woman in order for family members to be informed. A post mortem examination is due to take place tomorrow to determine the cause of her death. Detective Superintendent Tom Chisholm, from force CID, said: “This investigation is moving swiftly and our enquiries have already led to …

Latest news Man charged with burglary spree as WMP probes south Birmingham disorders 04/05/2017 A man has been charged with a string of burglaries in south Birmingham as part of a West Midlands Police investigation into recent disturbances in the area. Leon Clarke, from Pomeroy Close in Bartley Green, is due in court today in connection with a total of eight break-ins spanning Kings Heath and Northfield, plus Solihull, Sandwell and Wythall. It’s alleged the 20-year-old targeted two Kings Heath homes on 23 March – Woodthorpe Road and Tudor Close – and struck at an address in Holdgate Road, Northfield, on 28 January. Unemployed Clarke is also accused of three Solihu…

Latest news Man pleads guilty to attempted murder of Stourbridge businessman 03/05/2017 A man has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Stourbridge businessman Peter Wilkinson in his Norton home on 30 March. Aaron Barley, aged 23 of no fixed address, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court today (Wednesday 3 May). Mr Wilkinson was found with multiple stab wounds in the garden of his home in Greyhound Lane around 8am. Emergency services also found Mr Wilkinson’s wife Tracey and son Pearce with fatal stab wounds. Aaron Barley is also charged with their murders and will return to court on 19 July following medical assessments for a further hearing. View the full art…

Latest news Man sentenced for beating housemate to death 03/05/2017 A man who beat his housemate to death following an argument over money has today (Wednesday 3 May) been sentenced to eleven years in prison following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court. Damien Borowiec, aged 23, of Durham Road, Sparkill, was handed the sentence after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Wojciech Moldena. Mr Moldena, aged 52, was attacked at the multi-occupancy home he lived in on Durham Road during the early hours of Sunday 3 April last year. He was found by ambulance staff at around 9:30am on Sunday 3 April and died of head injuries. Wojciech lived in the house on Durham Road w…

Latest news Man arrested after Bartley Green shooting 03/05/2017 A man has been arrested in the early hours of this morning following a shooting in Bartley Green on Sunday (30 April). Officers arrested the 20-year-old from his home address on suspicion of attempted murder and several burglaries across the south of Birmingham. The shooting happening on Parkside around 4.15pm where armed response officers found two vehicles abandoned – a VW Golf and a Vauxhall Corsa. These were recovered for forensic examinations. A 29-year-old man later presented himself at hospital with a gunshot injury to his arm, which was not life-threatening. He remains in hospital. Inspect…

Latest news Birmingham breast surgeon guilty 28/04/2017 A former Birmingham based surgeon has today (28 April) been found guilty of carrying out unnecessary breast surgery on a number of patients in his care. Ian Paterson used his position of trust and his reputation as a leading breast surgeon to convince his patients they were at high risk of developing breast cancer and needed surgery. Although his motive remains unclear, it is believed Paterson may have been driven by financial gain, so he could claim payment for carrying out each procedure to fund his extravagant lifestyle. As a result, his patients and their families lived with the belief they could have can…