News Room

Latest news Shop raiders jailed for 20 years – latest success in police offensive on gang crime in Coventry 18/03/2016 Three men have been jailed for a crowbar raid on a Coventry store that left a brave staff member with a fractured skull after he ran to protect a female colleague. Jamie Phelan (left), Kieran Prentice (middle) and Jack Lindon (right) charged into B&M Bargains in Ansty Road, Walsgrave, shortly after closing time on June 23 last year. The gang – who bought balaclavas and crowbars from another discount store just an hour before the 8.15pm robbery – kicked open the cash office door and demanded a manager hand over takings from the safe. A shop …

Latest news Appeal update: Man arrested in connection with serious sexual assault 18/03/2016 Earlier today officers appealed for information in relation to a serious sexual assault that occurred behind Flan O’Brien’s in Walsall town centre on Sunday 21 February. A 27-year-old man from Walsall has attended a police station and been arrested since the images were released. Enquiries continue, and anyone with information about what happened is asked to contact PC Madeleine Farmer at West Bromwich police station on 101. Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111. View the full article

Latest news Fatal teen shooting – police urge witnesses to help enquiry 18/03/2016 Detectives are appealing for information about yesterday’s teenage murder in Ladywood – and believe several people may have seen the early evening shooting. Police were called to St Mark’s Crescent, Ladywood, at around 6.45pm where an 18-year-old man was found in the street with a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene. The road was cordoned off to allow forensics teams to scour the area for evidence, CCTV is being examined, and officers are conducting house-to-house enquiries. Detective Superintendent Mark Payne described the shooting as “shocking” and urged anyone with…

Latest news Brothers convicted after WMP uncovers car theft racket 18/03/2016 Two Birmingham brothers have been convicted of running a stolen car ‘chop shop’ from a lock-up in Sparkbrook after West Midlands Police linked them to a series of thefts. Usman and Mahmood Khalid used the unit in Walford Road to strip down cars stolen from outside homes in Birmingham, Tamworth and Northampton. Police uncovered an array of parts linked to seven different vehicles – with a combined value of almost £200,000 – when a tracker device fitted in a Range Rover taken from Old Warwick Road, Solihull, led officers to the garage in the early hours of 26 June 2014. Officers found 37-…

Latest news Murder enquiry after teen killed in street shooting 18/03/2016 A murder enquiry has been launched after a teenager was shot dead in Birmingham last night (March 17). Police were called to St Mark’s Crescent, Ladywood, at around 6.45pm where an 18-year-old man was found in the street with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The road has been cordoned off to allow for forensics search teams to scour the area for evidence, while the victim’s family is being supported by specially trained officers. Witnesses or anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact West Midlands Police on the 101 number or the independent charity…

Latest news Police appeal following serious sexual assault 18/03/2016 Detectives investigating a serious sexual assault in Walsall have released CCTV images of a man they are searching for. A 21-year-old woman was attacked on wasteland behind Flan O’Briens just off Ablewell Street in the early hours of Sunday 21 February. She had been on a night out with friends when she got separated from them and befriended an unknown group consisting of three women and a man. She left the pub to have a cigarette with the man in the group, once outside he dragged her away to the wasteland and attacked her. Luckily she managed to escape and raised the alarm with door staff…

Latest news Man to appear in court charged with West Bromwich murder 17/03/2016 Police investigating the death of a 65-year-old pensioner in West Bromwich have charged a man with his murder. Paul Robert Cooke, aged 35 of no fixed address, has been charged with the murder of Ronald Smith at his home address in Cottage Walk, West Bromwich on Tuesday 2 June, 2015. He will appear at Oldbury Magistrates Court on Friday 18 March. Ronald Smith died of stab injuries at his home. A 60-year-old man, also arrested in connection with the death, has been told he will face no further action. View the full article

Latest news Witness sought in murder investigation 17/03/2016 Detectives have released CCTV of a man who may have information about a murder in Tipton last November. The man is captured on CCTV on the night of 7 November in the Great Bridge area. A murder investigation was launched after the body of Indiga Daniel Wallace was found in a flat on Fisher Street, Tipton on 7 November last year. A post mortem revealed that he died as a result of head injuries. Sam Arnold aged 21, Dwayne Wallace aged 30 and Kingsley Campbell aged 30 have all been charged with murder and remanded in custody pending trial. Detective Inspector Harry Harrison said: “It is important that…

Latest news Burglar posed as PC to trick elderly – jailed after DNA found on cigarette 17/03/2016 A burglar who posed as a police officer to trick his way into pensioners’ homes has been jailed after West Midlands Police traced him from DNA found on a cigarette butt. Jason Fellowes aged 38, from Badgers Way in Stechford, convinced four Birmingham residents he was a detective probing past burglaries and offering crime prevention advice to keep valuables safe. But home security was the last thing on Fellowes’ mind and, once inside, he distracted his targets before swiping cash. He struck first in West Heath on 24 July last year after flashing an ID badge at an 83-y…

Latest news Police issue warning as jewellery stolen in roadside distraction theft 17/03/2016 Police have issued a warning after tricksters stole a woman’s jewellery on the roadside under the ruse of asking directions to the hospital. The woman fell prey to an emerging trend where victims are distracted and confused by usually more than one offender, who use a number of excuses to engage them in conversation. The woman was stopped on Portobello Road in Hill Top, West Bromwich around 3.15pm on Tuesday 8 March by two women in a blue Ford Focus. As she gave directions, the two women got out and thanked her, putting necklaces and bracelet around her neck and wrist…

Latest news CSE survivor tells her story at event tackling exploitation 16/03/2016 West Midlands Police hosts a major conference this week (Thurs 17 March) aimed at better understanding child abuse and protecting vulnerable youngsters. The event – on the eve of National Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Awareness Day – brings together more than 200 child protection professionals from police, local authorities, charities and specialist support groups. Entitled “Can you See Me, Can you Hear Me, Will you Listen to Me?” the conference will examine ways agencies can identify early abuse warning signs – and act on those to safeguard children and apprehend offenders. A…

Latest news Speeding fine “Mr Fix-It” jailed after WMP expose scam 16/03/2016 A speeding fine ‘Mr Fix-It’ has been jailed after a West Midlands Police probe uncovered a systematic phantom driver scam that’s understood to have helped hundreds of motorists dodge penalty points. Ramesh Jhalli, from Ventnor Avenue in Hodge Hill, charged up to £200 to take prosecution notices off the hands of speeders and invent bogus drivers to take the rap. Jhalli (pictured below) claimed his imaginary drivers lived at one of eight addresses across the West Midlands – mainly multi-occupancy properties with communal entrances – and when penalty notices landed in the post he collected t…

Latest news Man charged with attempted murder in Sutton Coldfield 16/03/2016 A man has been charged with attempted murder after a woman was stabbed at an address in Sutton Coldfield. Administration worker Matthew Bennett, aged 31, of Blaydon Avenue, will appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court this morning (16 March). Police were called to Blaydon Avenue at 7.30pm on Monday (14 March) to reports a 59 year-old woman was injured. She was taken to hospital and is in a critical but stable condition. View the full article

Latest news Teenage girl seriously hurt in Stourbridge collision 15/03/2016 Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision in Stourbridge this morning (15 March) that left a girl with a serious head injury. The 16-year-old was hit by a Vauxhall Meriva just after 8am at the junction of Wollescote Road and Hodge Hill Avenue. She sustained serious head injuries and remains in a serious condition in hospital. Officers have spoken to the driver of the Meriva, who stopped at the scene, and the road was closed for most of the morning whilst specialist accident reconstruction officers tried to piece together what happened. Sergeant Adam Green, from the Regional Collis…

Latest news Police name teenager killed in Longbridge collision 15/03/2016 Police have named a woman who died following a serious collision in Longbridge on Thursday 10 March. Amy McKenzie was the front seat passenger in a Vauxhall Corsa which was involved in a collision with a Vauxhall Vivaro van at around 6am on Groveley Lane. The 18-year-old was taken to hospital but despite the best efforts of doctors she died on Friday afternoon. The teenager’s family have today paid tribute to her, they said: “Amy was full of life. She was a happy, bubbly girl who always lived life to the fullest and always had a smile on her face. “She was loved by everyone and all of her…