News Room

Latest news Prison inmates sentenced for brutal attack 07/04/2016 Two serving prisoners at HMP Birmingham have been sentenced to seven years each for a brutal assault on another inmate. Jake Ratcliffe (pictured left), aged 22, attacked a fellow prisoner in his cell with a sock containing a heavy implement, possibly a pool ball in July last year. He was closely followed into the cell by 25-year-old Nicholas Avey (pictured right) and both men set about their victim, kicking and punching him to the floor. The 53-year-old man was left with three fractures to his jaw and other bruising. Both men pleaded not guilty to the assault, claiming to be elsewhere at the time…

Latest news Three arrested after fatal stabbing in West Bromwich 06/04/2016 An investigation has been launched following an incident in West Bromwich this afternoon (Wednesday 6 April) where one man has died and another seriously injured. Emergency services were alerted to reports of a stabbing at an address in Campville Crescent, Stone Cross at approximately 1:50pm this afternoon. A man believed to be in his early 40s died at the scene and another man believed to be in his early 20s has been taken to hospital with serious injuries. He is described as being in a serious but stable condition. Two men and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of murder and have b…

Latest news Carer jailed for stealing £20k from elderly woman 06/04/2016 A carer who stole more than £20,000 from an elderly woman who she was meant to be looking after has been jailed for two years following a West Midlands Police investigation. The family of the 87-year-old victim, from Castle Vale, contacted officers after they found out £12,000 had been withdrawn from her account in numerous cash withdrawals. A police inquiry was launched and carer Rachael Robinson, aged 30, from Davenport Drive, was quickly identified as a prime suspect. The Post Office was able to provide times, dates and locations of each of the fraudulent transactions, which were then c…

Latest news Two arrested on suspicion of counter terrorism offences 04/04/2016 Officers from West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit have today (Monday 4 April) arrested a man at Gatwick airport for Syria-related terrorism offences. The man - aged 24 - was detained before boarding a flight. Searches are being carried out at two addresses in Birmingham. A 20-year-old woman has also been arrested at an address in West London; she has also been arrested for Syria-related offences. The two are being held at a police station in the West Midlands. There was no risk to any passengers at Gatwick Airport or to the wider public in relation to these arrests. View the fu…

Latest news Appeal for witnesses after Birmingham collision claims man’s life 05/04/2016 Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision in Digbeth which claimed the life of a Redditch man six days later. It happened just after 11am on Friday 25 March at the junction of Alcester Street and Bradford Street between a red Toyota Corolla and a white Nissan Qashqai. The driver of the Qashqai suffered minor injuries but 31-year-old Nadeem Asghar, who was behind the wheel of the Corolla, was taken to hospital where he later died on Thursday (31 March). Collision Investigator Sergeant Steve Newbury said: "The road was closed for several hours while emergency services we…

Latest news Trio charged in connection with shootings in Birmingham 05/04/2016 Three men will appear in court charged with offences in connection with a series of shootings in the Birmingham area last year. Ashai Gray, 22 of Willes Road, Winson Green and Reial Phillips, 20 of Musgrave Road, Winson Green were charged with conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to supply class A drugs. They will stand accused of being involved in a number of shootings in which people were injured including Nursery Road on 20 July, Hurst Street on 25 July, Hunters Road on 1 September and Great Hampton Row on 10 October. A thir…

Latest news Police bail two arrested for terrorism offences while enquiries take place 05/04/2016 Two people arrested for Syria-related terrorism offences at Gatwick Airport and at an address in West London have been released on police bail. The pair, a 24-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman, both from Birmingham, were detained yesterday morning (Monday 4 April) by officers from West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit. They were arrested on suspicion of engaging in conduct in preparation for travelling to Syria and were taken to a police station in the West Midlands and bailed with strict conditions until a later date while enquiries take place. The arrests were pa…

Latest news Man charged in Sparkhill murder investigation 05/04/2016 Police have charged a man with murder after a body was found at a hostel in Sparkhill on Sunday morning (3 April). Damien Borowiec, aged 21, of Durham Road, has been remanded in custody to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court this morning (5 April). He is accused of killing a 52-year-old man who was discovered dead at the Durham Road property at around 10am yesterday. Eight others were also arrested; two have been bailed pending further enquiries and the remainder have been released without charge. The investigation is ongoing and anyone who can assist our detectives is asked to call 101. …

Latest news Witness appeal after elderly driver dies in collision 04/04/2016 Police are appealing for witnesses after a man has died following a collision on Wolverhampton Road in Sandwell on Saturday evening (2 April). Ted Harris was taken to hospital after suffering serious injuries when his silver Honda Jazz collided with a silver Audi S4 just after 7pm at the junction of Castle Road East. The 85-year-old from Oldbury sadly died from his injuries late last night. The driver of the Audi received minor injuries which did not require hospital treatment. Collision investigators closed the road temporarily today (Monday 4 April) to carry out a reconstruction of t…

Latest news Woman jailed for violent attempted robbery in West Bromwich 04/04/2016 A woman has been jailed for more than three years for launching an attack against a woman and trying to steal her handbag in West Bromwich. Birmingham Crown Court heard how Kirsty Aldred , of no fixed address, attacked a 51-year-old woman outside Sandwell General Hospital at around 11.25am on Wednesday 17 February. The 21-year-old had asked her victim for a £1 coin as she walked along Lyndon Grove, but when she refused Aldred turned violent and tried to grab her handbag. The woman managed to throw her bag to safety but Aldred continued to hit her over the head and scratch her face. …

Latest news Murder investigation launched after man found dead in Sparkhill 04/04/2016 Detectives have launched a murder investigation after a man was found dead at a hostel in Sparkhill yesterday (3 April). The body of the 52-year-old was found just after 10am at the hostel in Durham Road. Police were called and arrested eight men and one woman on suspicion of murder – they all remain in custody and will be questioned later today. Officers remain at the scene to carry out enquiries this morning. Detective Inspector Harry Harrison, from Force CID, said: “We are treating this death as suspicious and have a number of people in custody. “I would ask anyone who was …

Latest news Legal highs seized from shop in Dudley 01/04/2016 Police and trading standards officials have seized more than 100 ‘legal highs’ in a joint operation in Dudley today (Friday 1 April). It followed reports that New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) were being sold from a ‘head shop’ in the town, causing young people to suffer significant health issues. Officers visited the premises at around 1pm, secured the building and carried out a search. It led to the seizure of more than 100 products which are now due to be tested to identify exactly what the contents of the packets are. The proprietor has been invited for interview in the coming days. Chief Insp…

Latest news Birmingham heroin supplier busted after speeding on the M6 01/04/2016 A drug dealer who was found with more than a quarter-of-a-million pounds worth of heroin on the back seat of his car has been jailed for five years four months. Officers from the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) stopped Kamal Choudhury for speeding up the M6 in his Volkswagon Passat on 22 February. They pulled the 23-year-old over near Spaghetti Junction and, following routine checks, seized his car for not having the correct insurance. As the traffic officers helped Choudhury and his female passenger unload the car before it was towed away, their suspicions were raised by the …

Latest news “We won’t tolerate trouble" police warn ahead of protest 01/04/2016 West Midlands Police has finalised plans ahead of a protest by Pegida UK tomorrow (Sat 2 April) - and warned it will come down hard on anyone intent on causing trouble. The force has been negotiating with organisers for several weeks and agreed a protest site in Birmingham International Business Park a short walk from Birmingham International railway station. Protestors will muster at the station car-park between 1-2pm before walking to the demo point in nearby Starley Way; it’s anticipated the event will end by around 3pm. Chief Inspector Jack Hadley, from Solihull Police, said: “The…

Latest news Three to appear in court charged with taking Tipton bus 01/04/2016 Three men will appear in court this morning (1 April) to hear claims they stole a bus from a Tipton yard on Wednesday night. Peter Loveland, aged 39 from Dale Close in Tipton, and Thomas Tibbs, aged 20 of Clinic Drive in Lye, were charged with aggravated vehicle taking and bailed to appear at Sandwell Magistrates Court today. The third man, John Burton aged 38 from Broom Road in Dudley, was charged with aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and using a motor vehicle without third party insurance. He was remanded in custody to appear at the same court this morning. The tr…