Forty-six people have been banned from a number of pubs and bars in Chesterfield in a unanimous decision by the town’s Pub Watch members.

The individuals, a mixture of men and woman, were originally arrested by police in connection with drugs offences as the result of an operation in the town centre between October and December last year.

Each person has been banned for five years from entering 33 licenced premises in the town centre, which are members of Chesterfield Pub Watch scheme.

A further 15 premises, that form the Sheffield Road Pub Watch, are also considering banning the individuals, and members will taking a vote at their meeting next week.

Pub Watch schemes are established by licensees and membership is restricted to licensed premises. They link in with the police, council and community safety partnerships, and work together to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

Roger Butler, Deputy Chair of Chesterfield Pub Watch, said: “Chesterfield Pub Watch is keen to support Derbyshire police in reducing drug related crime in our night time economy.”

Inspector Glyn Jones, who is responsible for the police licensing team in Chesterfield, said: “Pub Watch schemes can be very effective in taking a stand against crime and anti-social behaviour, which in turn helps create a safe and pleasant environment for people to enjoy a night out.

“This decision also shows that the members take their responsibilities to the wider community seriously, and by working together they can have a greater impact on keeping town centre premises safe.”

A police dog successfully tracked down two offenders after they tried to avoid being arrested.

A car had been spotted driving erratically at around 12.45 am today Wednesday 26 February in the Sneyd Green area by a police dog handler out on patrol. The officer followed the vehicle for a short while until it was in collision with a wall.

The car’s occupants fled the scene across some fields and the officer released police dog Pippa to help detain them. Two offenders, a 28-year-old man from Tunstall and a 21 year-old woman from the Norton area, were arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and drink driving and remain in police custody for questioning.

Anyone who has any information is asked to call on 101 quoting incident 016 of 26 February or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police have been given an extra five days to continue questioning the three men and one woman arrested yesterday (Feb 25) on suspicion of Syria-related terrorism offences.
A district judge assessed the progress of the investigation and granted a warrant of further detention until the morning of Tuesday March 4.
Meanwhile, searches continue at the three home addresses of the individuals detained.
They are a 45 year old man from Hall Green, suspected of attending a terrorist training camp and facilitating terrorism overseas, a 36 year old man from Shirley, suspected of facilitating terrorism overseas, and a 44 year old woman and her 20 year old son from Sparkhill, also suspected of facilitating terrorism overseas.
Detectives from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit detained all four in a pre-planned operation. They stressed there had been no immediate threat to public safety.

Two people being questioned by police in connection with the Nicola Payne missing person investigation have been bailed while detectives continue their enquiries.

Officers arrested a 49-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman at an address in Coventry this morning. Both have been given police bail until a date in April.

The arrests are part of the ongoing police investigation into Nicola’s disappearance in December 1991. Her family are aware of the latest developments.
DI Martin Slevin, who is leading the inquiry, said: “The investigation is ongoing and we continue to act on information and intelligence that we receive in our determination to find out what happened to Nicola and bring closure to her family.”

Two 49-year-old men and a 51-year-old woman who were arrested in December 2013 in connection with the investigation remain on police bail in connection with the offence.

A man in his 20s has been charged with attacking a woman in the car park of Asda on Sunday(23rd February).

The woman was walking through the car park when she was grabbed from behind by a man who put his hand across her mouth and pushed her up against a concrete wall. After the woman struggled he released her and ran off.

Joshua Beardmore, aged 20 and of Glenthorne Avenue, Worcester, was arrested on Tuesday 25th February and charged last night with kidnap.

He has been remanded into police custody to appear before Magistrates’ Court this morning (Thursday 27 February) at Kidderminster Remand Court.

Police are becoming increasingly concerned for a 79-year-old man who has gone missing from a residential care home in Balsall Heath.

John Bennett went missing from the care home in Old Field Road just before midnight last night (Wednesday). He suffers from dementia and doesn’t have the medication he usually takes with him.

He is described as black, thin, around 6ft tall and has grey hair and is believed to be wearing a black flat cap, a black blazer and black trousers.

Officers have launched a search in the area to find him and would ask anyone who has seen someone they think could be him to come forward.

Inspector Matt Tite, from Birmigham Police, said: “John has been missing all night and we want to find him as soon as possible.

“Unfortunately at this stage we have been unable to track down a photo of John but would ask anyone who sees a man matching the description to come forward and contact us. It is likely that he may become disorientated as time passes.”

Anyone who sees John should call police on 101 or the Missing People charity on 116 000.

A Birmingham man has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for drug offences.

David Mitchell of no fixed address pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and cannabis at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday 21 February.

The 22-year-old was arrested after police executed a drugs warrant in Kingstanding Road on 9 January earlier this year. Mitchell was found in a caravan on the driveway of the property with a large quantity of crack cocaine.

A search of the house revealed a large amount of cannabis in the loft and other items used for drug dealing, namely scales and mobile phones along with a large quantity of cash.

PC Luke Mincher from Birmingham North Police said: “The drugs haul was estimated to have a total street value of almost £10,000.

“We are pleased with the court’s sentencing and hope that anyone with information about drug dealing will have the confidence to contact us, so that we can take action.”

Anyone who has information about drug dealing can contact police on 101 or alternatively information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police in Worcestershire are appealing for the public’s help as they try to trace a dead man who was found in the River Avon last week.

Officers were called to the Weir Meadow Caravan Park in the town of Evesham at 10.10am on Wednesday 19 February when a member of the public spotted a body in the river that had been caught on a boat mooring.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service sent a boat crew to recover the man, who appeared to have been in the water for some days.

However, detectives have not been able to identity him: he had no ID or wallet on him and he does not fit any outstanding missing persons reports from Worcestershire or any of the policing areas upstream from Evesham – i.e. Warwickshire, West Midlands, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire.

After an appeal locally failed to trace the man, Detectives are releasing nationwide images of the clothes he wearing when he was found, which are:

• A pair of well-used Caterpillar boots;

• A studded leather belt;

• A tweed-like coat worn under a dark blue body warmer;

• A thick-knit jumper with a zipped collar;

• A blue and red-checked shirt;

• Dark blue jeans.

Found in a pocket were a pair of metal-rimmed glasses in a hard, blue case from Boots.

Detective Sergeant Chris Percival, who is leading the search, said: “Usually in such tragic cases, we can quickly identify the person and inform their next of kin, so it is unfortunate that with this man we have so little to go on.

“We thought it was more likely the man was from Worcestershire or Warwickshire, but our local appeals have not been successful, so we spreading our appeal nationally and sending his details to police forces across the country.

“I hope someone somewhere will recognise the description and the clothes he was wearing, and contact West Mercia Police straightway.”

DS Percival can be contacted at Worcester CID via the non-emergency police number 101 or information can be passed on anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers (0800 555 111 or via their website : www.crimestoppers-uk.org). Please quote the reference number 151s 19/02/14.

Police investigating a sexual assault on an 11 year old girl in Coventry have issued a new appeal for a black cab driver to contact them who may hold vital information about the incident.

Detectives are investigating the assault which took place at around 7.25am on Tuesday 5 November 2013, in Eld Road, Foleshill.

The youngster, who was walking to school, was approached by a man who tried to show her obscene images on his phone before assaulting her and walking off.

Following the assault detectives made an for witnesses which resulted in information coming to light that a black taxi cab was driving past as the offence took place.

DC Phil Gwynne from Coventry’s Public Protection unit said: “Following our original appeal a number of witnesses contacted the police and as a result we have identified a Black London taxi driving past at the time the offence took place. The taxi travelled down Eld Road, Foleshill, passing the junction of St Elizabeth Road, towards Station Street East, Coventry at approx 7.30am.

“We hope this new appeal may jog someone’s memory and they will come forward with information.”

The offender is described as a man in his mid 30s, very dark skinned and chubby build with very short black hair and a dark moustache growth. He was wearing a black jacket with yellow patches on the elbows and black trousers.
Anyone with information should contact Coventry’s PPU on 101 ext 7934 6290

De Montfort University’s record breaking work with The Rik Basra Leukaemia Campaign, has won a Guardian University Award for outstanding positive contribution to the local community.

Inspector Rik Basra had a life-saving bone marrow transplant in December 2011 after being diagnosed with leukaemia. During his campaign to find a suitable donor he discovered there was a chronic shortage of Asian people on the stem cell register.

He approached De Montfort University’s Square Mile project earlier this year to ask if the university could run a recruitment drive. More than 100 students volunteered to help run the event.

Now the project has won a Guardian University Award. The award recognises and rewards university projects that have the potential to inspire others and demonstrate genuine innovation in higher education as well as having a meaningful impact inside their institutions.

At a glittering awards ceremony in London on Wednesday evening (26 February) the judges presented the “Community Contribution” award to DMU Square Mile for its record-breaking work in encouraging people to sign up to the UK stem cell register.

The stem cell project, which was backed by stars from the world of pop music and sport, has twice broken the record for the single largest recruitment drive held by a university in the UK and in total has brought in more than 1,745 potential donors and chances to save lives.

Following the announcement of the winner, Square Mile Manager Mark Charlton said: “The Stem Cell project is a fantastic collaboration with the Rik Basra Leukaemia Campaign, and has twice broken the record for the single largest recruitment drive held by a university in the UK. “I can’t put into words how delighted we are to receive this award, so instead we intend to show our pride through action and continue to make an impact wherever we are able.”

DMU Square Mile is the brainchild of the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dominic Shellard, who said: “Students and staff at DMU come to DMU to make a difference. DMU Square Mile exemplifies this. I couldn’t be more proud of our selfless volunteers who have worked so hard with Rik Basra to recruit so many more stem cell donors.

“This award – and our other shortlisted entry – is testament to DMU’s dedication to ensuring higher education is fundamental to bringing about positive change for the public good.”

Inspector Rik Basra said; “The Rik Basra Leukaemia Campaign has worked hard to forge meaningful partnerships with different members of the community and the Square Mile project has been instrumental in helping us achieve that aim. They remain a valued partner and the immense success of the recruitment campaign reflects the benefits of working together to reach groups of people we might not be able to reach if we worked in isolation. I am really thrilled the project has received national recognition.”

A proactive integrity operation snared two police officers after they stole property as they searched a house last summer.

The PCs today (Friday 28 February) entered guilty pleas to charges of theft at Birmingham Magistrates Court.

Mark Davis, aged 30, and Neil Samuels, aged 33, who are both response officers in Sandwell, are currently suspended from their roles.

Suspicions of the pair were roused last April after information regarding their activities was raised to professional standards and as a result they were subjected to an integrity test by the force’s anti-corruption officers on 24 July.

Both pleaded guilty to stealing money and cigarettes during the searches of the property in Oldbury.

Davis and Samuels, who have six and 11 years service respectively, have been bailed until their sentencing on 26 March.

Superintendent Tim Godwin, from the Professional Standards department, said: “Police officers take a vow to serve the public and uphold the law with fairness, integrity and impartiality. Any that fall short of those standards, or who abuse their position, will face disciplinary action, the prospect of criminal prosecution and potential dismissal.

“As soon as the pair were suspected of acting improperly an investigation was launched culminating in the dedicated integrity test and their arrests and suspensions.

“I would like to reassure the public that we take police corruption very seriously and continue to work hard to root out corrupt officers and staff.”

Police in Wolverhampton have issued an urgent appeal to trace a missing 57-year-old man who suffers from episodes of amnesia.

Donald Davies was last seen at around 8am yesterday morning (Thursday 27 February) at his home address in the Portobello area of Wolverhampton.

He suffers with Transient Epileptic Amnesia which causes blackouts and leaves him unable to recognise where he is or people he knows,

Police and his family are extremely concerned for his welfare and are asking for anyone who sees Donald to contact local police on 101.

Donald is white, 5ft 4ins tall, medium build with grey hair, balding on top. He wears a hearing aid and has tattoos on his forearms. When last seen he was wearing jeans, a grey fleece and brown shoes.

A 31-year-old man has been jailed for life for offences including three rapes and a kidnapping.

Dean Finnemore, of Mossgate, New Parks, Leicester, will have to serve a minimum of 11 years before he can be considered for parole. He will be on the Sex Offender Register for life.

He was convicted at a trial at Stafford Crown Court of two rapes and a kidnapping involving one woman, rape of a second woman, and causing actual bodily harm to each of these victims and to a third woman.

The offences occurred over a seven year period.

Detective Inspector Reme Gibson, from Leicestershire Police’s Signal rape unit, said: “Finnemore presented a danger to women.

“These convictions demonstrate that rape victims can receive justice even when years have passed before they report the offence, and there is limited or no forensic evidence. I urge any victims of sexual violence to come forward.”

Finnemore had several previous convictions for violence. He was sentenced on Wednesday (February 26).

Judge Simon Tonkin told Finnemore: “Having considered all of the evidence in this case I am no doubt at all that you present a significant risk of causing serious harm by committing further sexual and violence offences.”

Members of an organised crime group who hid heroin in the Leicestershire countryside have been sentenced to a total of 38 years in prison.

Remote rural locations in the north of the county were used by the gang to stash the drugs that were later transported to safe houses across Leicestershire. They then met to mix the heroin with other substances including caffeine and paracetamol and prepared it for sale.

The conspiracy was initially investigated by Leicestershire Police before being passed to the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU).

Ringleader Joseph Yusuf Niamiah Clarke and a London-based associate Anthony Richards used contacts in Yorkshire to provide the group with the heroin. The group then used other contacts in Leicestershire to supply the drugs as far afield as Oldham, Birmingham and Leeds.

A number of warrants were executed and 11 arrests were made in Leicestershire and Greater Manchester in December 2012. A total of 3.5kg of heroin was recovered by police during the operation, as well as 4.5kg of other substances used to bulk out the heroin, enabling the gang to sell more of the drug and increase their profits.

Quantities of the drug were found buried in fields. Gang members were also found in possession of or concealing large quantities of cash amounting to more than £40,000.

Six men, including 30-year-old Clarke, of Burdock Close, Leicester, pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

He was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison at Leicester Crown Court on Friday (28 February 2014), as was Richards, 35, of Chaffinch Close, Edmonton, London.

Both men had previous convictions for drugs offences.

Nathaniel Benjamin Cheetham, 23, of Cavendish Mews, Leicester, was sentenced to six years in prison, as was Matthew Edwards, 31, of Leire Street, Leicester, who denied the offence but was convicted following a trial in February.

Arslan Hussain Shah, 25, of Greengate Street, Oldham, was sentenced to four years in prison.

Anthony Francis, 54, of Owlett Mead, Wakefield, was sentenced to three years in prison.

Connor Kavanagh, 20, of Sulgrave Road, Leicester, admitted money laundering and was given a two-year conditional discharge.

Syrus Shelton, 22, of Foxglove Road, Hamilton, Leicestershire, who also admitted the conspiracy charge, will be sentenced later this month.

Senior Investigating Officer DCI Mark Brayfield, of EMSOU, said: “The members of this gang went to great lengths to conceal their criminal activity, stashing the drugs in remote rural locations well away from their homes or businesses.

“Officers found the drugs in various locations around the county, including buried in fields. Between them, group members handled significant amounts of the drug, which they would have hoped to sell for hundreds of thousands of pounds in total.

“We also worked with colleagues in forces across the country to execute warrants and make arrests, and then with the Crown Prosecution Service to present the case which has resulted in these prison sentences.

“This underlines the commitment of EMSOU and the East Midlands police forces to disrupt and curtail the activities of those who aim to profit from the trafficking of illegal drugs and the misery that drug addiction bring to our communities.”

Two brothers were attacked with a Stanley knife − with one slashed across the throat − as a long-standing feud between Birmingham families erupted in a bloody fight at a trendy city nightspot.

Russell Broughton lashed out with the blade at Robert and Thomas Cadby when the trio squared up in the Mailbox’s Bar Room Bar on 6 April last year.

Birmingham Crown Court heard the flare-up was the culmination of tit-for-tat attacks going back many years that were sparked by rows over an outstanding debt.

The Cadby brothers, from Castle Vale, went into the bar looking for 44-year-old Broughton at around 8.30pm on the Saturday night and, after finding him drinking with friends, smashed cocktail glasses over his head.

In the melee that followed Robert Cadby (50) suffered a slash wound running from his ear across his throat whilst 51-year-old sibling Thomas suffered chest and facial lacerations.

George Cadby − Robert’s 21-year-old son − and friend Ashley Smyth (19) chased Broughton out of the venue and, when they caught up with him in Holliday Road, left him with serious injuries after a vicious beating.

Despite the extent of the injuries none of the warring parties made complaints to the police or moved to help officers with their enquiries − but determined to see such violent men face justice West Midlands Police pushed for a “victimless” prosecution.

And at Birmingham Crown Court today (March 6) Broughton − from Locking Croft, Castle Vale − was sentenced for four years after admitting wounding and possessing a knife in public. The judge took into account Broughton was not the initial aggressor.

George Cadby, from Cadbury Drive, and Smyth from Blenheim Drive − both in Castle Vale − admitted wounding with intent to cause GBH and were both sentenced to six years in prison.

Robert Cadby, from Cadbury Drive, and Thomas Cadby from Hawker Drive both admitted assault and were handed 15-month sentences.

West Midlands Police Sergeant Harjit Ubhi, said: “The attack was the result of a long-standing feud…they were initially associates but there was bad blood over a debt and also a tribal element over ‘ownership’ of their estate.

“This was an outrageously violent incident in a busy club in front of many people who were out enjoying themselves. They clearly thought that if they refused to co-operate with police then we would be powerless to prosecute…but they were sadly wrong.

“In cases like this, where we have no ‘victim’ as such because no-one has complained, we can still build cases against those involved and push for prosecutions. These men clearly thought they were above the law…that they could commit offences and get away with it. But that confidence, that smugness has been shattered because we’ve brought them to justice and got some violent men locked up for a considerable period of time.”

Detectives traced Broughton to an address in Woodlands Farm Road, Pype Hayes, the night after the attack.

As officers stormed the front door Broughton ran from the rear of the property and crashed through and over garden fences − but was quickly downed by a police dog and handler who had been placed to cut off potential escape routes.

The Stanley knife used by Broughton was recovered by police search specialists near the Mailbox having been thrown over a wall as he ran from the centre.

Det Sgt Ubhi, added: “This was a small knife but one, as we’ve seen in this case, can inflict very serious injuries. Had it not been for some off-duty paramedics, who were on a night out and came to the victims’ aid, we may well have been looking at a fatality.

Detectives have launched a murder enquiry after a woman’s body was found in a Wolverhampton Hotel.

Police were called to the Britannia Hotel in the city centre at 10am where the 29-year-old woman from Wolverhampton was discovered. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 41-year-old man is currently in hospital and is helping police with their enquiries.

Forensic experts are examining the scene and specialist officers are supporting the woman’s family at this difficult time.

A man who had sexual relationships with two 15-year-old girls has been jailed for six years.

Michael Smith, of Chesterfield, admitted five counts of sexual activity with a child and two charges of common assault.

The 24-year-old was given a lifelong ban from having any unsupervised contact or communication of any kind with girls under the age of 16 years. He must also not have any contact with his victims.

The charges related to relationships Smith had with the two 15-year-old girls over several months in 2013.

Smith was arrested at his home in Arundel Close in October last year and pleaded guilty to the charges at Derby Crown Court on Wednesday, March 5.

Police have identified a man whose body was found in the River Avon at Evesham last month.

Officers were called to the Weir Meadow Caravan Park in Castle Street on Wednesday 19 February when a member of the public spotted a body in the river that had been caught up on a boat mooring.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service sent a boat crew to recover the man, who appeared to have been in the water for some days.

Detectives were not initially able to identity him. He had no ID or wallet on him and he did not fit any local outstanding missing persons reports. West Mercia Police released a nationwide appeal for the public’s help to discover his identity, including releasing photos of his clothes.

However, during a police search of the river bank looking for further clues, a rucksack was found that belonged to a man in his 50s from Cheltenham. Using DNA technology it was confirmed he was the deceased man.

His next of kin have been informed and the Coroner for Worcestershire has been updated.

Detective Sergeant Craig Tennant said: “It is a relief we have confirmed who this man is and his family can now start grieving for their loved one.

“I would like to thank those people from across the country who contacted us with information about who this gentleman may have been.”