News Room

Latest news Investigation launched after man stabbed in Hockley 14/05/2016 We are appealing for information after a man was stabbed on the 8a bus travelling from Lozells to Birmingham city centre last Saturday (7 May). Our officers were called to Vyse Street in Hockley at around 6pm. The 28-year-old was treated by the ambulance service and taken to hospital where he was given a CT scan and a blood transfusion. He has since been discharged. We have now released CCTV images of two men we want to trace in connection with the attack. Anyone with information is urged to call Detective Constable Jon Chew from Force CID on 101. Alternatively people can leave inf…

Latest news Man jailed for life for killing his aunt 13/05/2016 A man who killed his aunt on the driveway of her home while suffering a mental disorder, has today (Friday 13 May) been jailed for life. Gareth Emery, aged 25, from Clinton Road, Shirley, was handed the term at Birmingham Crown Court. He will serve a minimum of nine years after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Anne Dunkley on the grounds of diminished responsibility at an earlier hearing. Anne, aged 67, a retired deputy head teacher, was killed outside her home in Elmdon Road, Marston Green in June 2015. Emery attacked his aunt with a shovel, causing severe head and face injuries - she was take…

Latest news Local man arrested after hit and run in Alum Rock 13/05/2016 A suspected hit and run driver has been arrested following a collision in Alum Rock yesterday (12 May) that left a pedestrian with multiple injuries. Police were alerted just before 7pm when a 65-year-old man was struck by a car in Alum Rock Road at the junction of Ludlow Road. The driver of the car sped off but the vehicle was tracked down to a road nearby. The 31-year-old man handed himself into a local police station this morning, he will be questioned on suspicion of failing to stop at the scene of a collision. A white Toyota Land cruiser with front end damage has been seized by police fo…

Latest news Driving instructor jailed for sex assaults on pupils 13/05/2016 A driving instructor from the Black Country has been jailed for four years after being convicted of sexually assaulting six of his young male students while they were having lessons. Gary Rolinson was found guilty of the offences at Wolverhampton Crown Court in January and was sentenced today (Friday 13 May) at Warwickshire Justice Centre in Leamington Spa. A jury heard how the he would repeatedly grope teenage male pupils while running 500+ Driving School Ltd in Kingswinford. The 60-year-old was caught after one of the young men made a complaint to West Midlands Police in 2014, sparki…

Latest news Sex offender flees country to avoid jail 13/05/2016 A paedophile who fled the country to avoid facing charges of rape against two young children has been jailed for two decades in his absence. Jose Manico, aged 44, first struck in London in 2003 when he targeted the young daughter of a previous girlfriend. The girl, who was aged seven or eight at the time, reported the assaults in 2008 but no charges were brought against Manico due to insufficient evidence. In August 2014 Manico had moved to Birmingham and was married with children when he assaulted a six-year-old boy who was staying at his home. Months later the boy found the courage to tell his mo…

Latest news Walsall hypnotherapist charged with drug offences 13/05/2016 A hypnotherapist has been charged with two counts of possession of class A, two counts of possession of class C and one count of supplying Class C controlled drugs. Shokat Ali, aged 61, of Foxwood Avenue, Great Barr, is accused of providing the controlled drug Diazepam to patients during hypnotherapy sessions at his home-run practice Life Principles. PC David Tenn from Walsall Police Station, said: “We are aware that Mr Ali has a nationwide client base and we are keen to speak to anyone who has concerns about the treatment they have received at Life Principles. “We want to stress that anybody…

Latest news Police hunch leads to drugs stash find – and jail for dealer 13/05/2016 An intuitive street stop by West Midlands Police officers led them to uncover a cocaine and heroin stash valued at nearly £25,000 – and the jailing of a drug dealer. Cops on patrol in the Tile Hill area of Coventry became suspicious when they spotted three men cruising the streets in a car just after midnight on 29 March. The hunch proved well-founded as, having pulled the Volkswagen Passat over in Banner Lane, a strong smell of cannabis wafted from the vehicle. A search of rear seat passenger Abdul Mahmood (pictured) revealed a bundle of cash topping £1,000 – and when officers lat…

Latest news Police appeal following attempted robbery in Frankley 12/05/2016 Police are appealing for witnesses after an attempted robbery on a pregnant mother and her nine-month-old child in Frankley. The woman, aged 18, was walking along Arden Road when she realised she was being followed by four men at around 9.30pm last night (Wednesday 11 May). She was stopped by the group who demanded money and her mobile phone. One of them pulled out what is thought to have been a knife, while the others patted her down and searched her pockets. When nothing was found, one of the men took the pushchair and began to run around in circles whilst singing nursery rhymes. The p…

Latest news Treasurer jailed for gambling sports club takings on high-risk shares 12/05/2016 A sports club treasurer who pilfered more than £200,000 from club coffers has been jailed after a West Midlands Police probe showed he squandered the cash gambling on high-risk stocks and shares. Jeffrey Hampson (pictured) was in charge of finances at Boldmere Sports and Social club, Sutton Coldfield, between April 2014 and last December and oversaw an annual turnover in excess of £300,000. But the popular club – which runs more than 30 football teams plus bowls, netball and tennis sections – was almost brought to its knees as Hampson transferred a total of £217,000 from it…

Latest news Community champion jailed for sex offences 12/05/2016 A deviant ‘pillar of the community’ has been jailed for sex offences after a three year reign of abuse and control of two young women. Stephen Mcallister, from Cowles Croft in Yardley, was found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday (6 May) of two counts of controlling prostitution for gain and two counts of controlling sexual exploitation of a child after a three week trial and was sentenced today (11 May) to eight and a half years in prison. He will also be placed on the Sex Offender Register for life. The jury heard how, over a period of time, the 52-year-old took control of his victims,…

Latest news “We’re watching you" - police warning to dodgy taxi and private hire drivers 12/05/2016 Cabbies and private hire drivers who operate illegally in Birmingham are being warned they will be caught and face prosecution. New signs have been installed across the city centre reminding drivers against breaking the law and touting for on-street business - a specific offence known in the trade as ’plying.’ The 100 reflective signs have been put near prominent entertainment spots including Broad Street, Hurst Street and Ladywell Walk warning that CCTV is in operation; offenders face penalty points, hefty court fines and being struck off the council’s books. West…

Latest news Appeal after watch stolen in armed robbery 11/05/2016 Officers are appealing for information following an armed robbery on Charles Hayward Drive in Sedgley. A 21-year-old-man was approached by two hooded men as he walked down the road with a friend at 8.30pm. The men hit him around the head with a hammer before threatening him with a handgun. Luckily he was not seriously injured and was treated in hospital for minor cuts, bruising and swelling and released later the same day. A £40,000 watch given as a birthday present was the sole item stolen during the attack on Thursday 28 April. Detective Constable Stephen Judd-Ingram, from Force CID, said: “T…

Latest news PCs ‘adopt’ post offices in police pilot 11/05/2016 Police officers are set to be a familiar sight in post offices across the West Midlands after the force struck a deal to locate ‘pop-up’ surgeries in community branches. Up to 30 post offices in Sandwell and 10 in north Birmingham will take part in a pilot scheme designed to give customers a chance to raise any concerns in a relaxed environment and get to know their beat cops. Neighbourhood officers will tour participating branches on a rota basis and spend up to two hours chatting with visitors and passing on important crime prevention advice. And it’s hoped the “Adopt a Post Office” project will be …

Latest news Appeal to help find missing 14 year-old Coventry girl 10/05/2016 Police are appealing for help in tracing a 14-year-old girl who has gone missing from her home in Coventry. Manpreet Garcha, from the Stoke Aldermoor area, was last seen at around 1pm on Sunday (8 May). The teenager is described as Asian, 5ft 4ins tall, slim build, with brown shoulder length wavy hair. Manpreet was last seen wearing a pink dress, black shoes and with a gold handbag. She has never been missing before and police are urging Manpreet, or anyone who may know of her whereabouts, to come forward to let officers and family know she is ok. Anyone with information can call C…

Latest news Police appeal after woman robbed at knifepoint in Stetchford 10/05/2016 Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman was robbed at knifepoint in Stetchford. The woman, aged 43, was approached by a man as she got into her car at Stetchford Retail Park, Birmingham, at 4.55pm on 27 April. He held a knife to her throat and stole her handbag before running off. He was later captured on CCTV trying to dispose of the handbag. The woman was left shaken but uninjured. Detective Constable John Demers, who is investigating the attack, said: “I am anxious for anyone who knows who may be responsible for this robbery to contact me as soon as possible. “It …