More than 50 suspected Cannabis plants have been found by police during a search at a house in Brampton, Chesterfield.

Operational Support Team officers carried out the warrant on Friday, April 4 on Old Hall Road, with support from the local Safer Neighbourhood policing team.

Approximately 53 plants were seized during the raid, which was set up following reports of suspicious activity from the local community.

A 34-year-old man from Chesterfield was arrested on suspicion of producing Cannabis and is currently on bail pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information about illegal drug use or activity should contact Derbyshire police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A woman had her handbag snatched from her shoulder by a thief on a bike while she was walking along a Derby street.

The victim was walking in London Road at about 12.45am on Saturday, April 5 when the offender rode up alongside her.

He grabbed her handbag, which contained items including the victim’s phone and cash, and cycled off along London Road away from the city centre.

The robber was described as in his late-teens to mid-20s and of skinny build. He wore a black hooded top with three white stripes down the sleeves and black tracksuit bottoms. The bike he was riding was black.

Detective Sergeant Chris Richmond, who leads the city’s robbery investigation team, said: “We’ve had reports recently of women being targeted by robbers on bikes who grab their bags as they ride past.

“Although these incidents are isolated, it’s important for people to be aware of their surroundings and to do everything they can to avoid being targeted.

“I’d urge people to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and, where possible, to stick in a group or make sure your belongings are secure.”

Did you see anyone matching that description in the area or do you know who could have committed the robbery?

Witnesses or anyone with information should call Derbyshire police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Police investigating the murder of a woman in the Normanton area of Derby have arrested a man.
Yvette Hallsworth (36) was found dead just after 11am on Sunday, April 6 by a member of the public on a service road at the back of houses on Hartington Street.
A post mortem examination revealed she died as a result of stab wounds.
An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder in the Normanton area this afternoon (Tuesday, April 8). He remains in police custody and will be questioned by detectives.
Miss Hallsworth worked as a prostitute and was known to have been working in the Hartington Street area on the night of Saturday, April 5.
She was last seen wearing distinctive camouflage patterned leggings, a black fleece jacket and black Nike trainers. She was white, around 5ft 4ins tall, of slim build with shoulder-length dark hair.
Detectives would like to speak to anyone who saw a woman fitting that description in the Hartington Street area during the hours of darkness on Saturday, April 5 through to 11am on Sunday, April 6.
Did you see or hear anything suspicious or unusual? If so, contact Derbyshire police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Detectives have released images of two hooded men who got more than they bargained for when they attempted to rob a bus passenger in Birmingham.

The pair got onto the number 11A bus, heading from Bearwood, at around 6.30pm on Monday 17 February.

The suspects headed to the top deck where they approached a 26-year-old man who was sat towards the back of the bus.

One of the would-be-robbers demanded the man’s mobile phone several times and began to threaten him, but they were in for a shock when he got up and punched one of the men to the face and pushed passed them in an attempt to flee for safety.

Detective Sergeant Lucy Bird, from Birmingham robbery team, is investigating the crime. She said: “The passenger was, understandably, concerned for his safety and was worried that the two suspects were carrying a weapon.

“He refused to hand over his phone and when the threats became more menacing he quickly acted to defend himself and flee to the comparative safety of the lower deck, where there were more people.

“The pair ran after him and kicked him as he fled, but then got off the bus when they realised their robbery attempt was in vain.”

The offenders escaped from the bus on City Road, Winson Green and ran off.

They are both described as white. The first offender is described as being in his mid to late teens, around 6ft tall, of average build, and he had his hood up. The second suspect was also in his mid to late teens, around 5ft 6in tall, of skinny build, with brown short hair and he was wearing a black bodywarmer.

Anyone with information should call Birmingham Police robbery team by dialling 101 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Sandwell Police have released images of a man they want to trace after a woman was attacked by a man with a needle as she popped out for her lunch in Blackheath.

The 28-year-old drove to the town’s High Street and popped into the local Greggs store, at around 2.15pm on 26 February, when she was assaulted.

As she left the bakers’ a man, who was on his phone, bumped into her and then walked behind the woman as she walked back to her car, on Short Street.

Moments later the man punched the woman in the back and walked off, back towards the High Street, when the lady noticed him holding a syringe.

PC Joe Toon, from Sandwell Police investigation team, said: “The woman took off her coat following the attack and found that there was a mark of an yellow liquid.

“It seems her assailant had possibly injected her, or tried to, with an unknown fluid.

“The incident was deeply distressing for the lady and, understandably, she has endured weeks of upset and medical tests since the attack to make sure she has not suffered any lasting effects from the attack.”

The offender is described as a white man, in his mid to late 30s, around 5ft 8in tall, of chubby build. He appeared to be bald and was wearing a blue baseball cap. He was also wearing a navy blue jumper with a ‘Sandwell Homes’ logo on the chest area and blue trousers.

“Since the attack we have been working to identify the suspect, in particular with Sandwell Homes, however we are still yet to trace the man and appeal for anyone who recognises him to contact us.”

Anyone able to help the police inquiry should call Sandwell Police investigation team by dialling 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Four people have been arrested in a series of dawn raids this morning (10 April) on suspicion of burgling almost 70 homes across the Black Country, Staffordshire and Shropshire.

Around 100 officers, including colleagues from the Staffordshire and West Mercia forces, visited nine addresses at 5am supported by West Midlands Police’s dogs unit and the National Police Air Service.

Three men, aged 21, 24 and 25, were arrested from a travellers’ site on Oak Lane in Kingswinford and one man, aged 48, was arrested from a property on Wolverhamtpon Road in Heath Town.

The four men are suspected of being involved in the break-ins, which have seen families specifically targeted for Asian Gold − predominantly in Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Two teenagers, who were also present at the address in Heath Town, were arrested after enquiries revealed they were wanted for aggravated burglary by South Wales Police.

In some of the cases burglars have forced their way into houses and threatened occupants with violence − including one occasion where a woman in her 90s was dragged around her home in Wolverhampton.

The crime spree began last October with detached properties in semi-rural locations predominantly being targeted. The most recent linked offence was in February this year.

Officers from Force CID have been working around the clock to intercept those thought to be responsible, closing-in over the last few days and leading to the arrests.

Detective Inspector Steve Walters said: “The people who’re responsible for the break-ins are confident and brazen, having on several occasions gone into properties where they know occupants are present and threatening them.

“Putting a stop to these offences and arresting suspects has been a priority for us since this crime pattern was identified.”

“I know there’s been concern locally about the impact of these offences, particularly amongst members of the Asian community, given the nature of what has been taken by the burglars.

“We will be questioning those arrested throughout the day and I hope that people are reassured by the action we’ve taken this morning.”

DI Walters added: “Despite what appears to be an alarming number of burglaries, the numbers must be seen in the context of an overall reduction in offences.

“Crime continues to fall in the West Midlands and there’s been a reduction in the number of house burglaries of 13 per cent since the start of the year, equating to 38 fewer victims.”

A man serving an 8 year sentence has absconded from an open prison.

Martin Casey (28) absconded from HMP Sudbury on 10th April, 2014.

Casey was convicted on April, 17 2013 at Nottingham Crown Court and sentenced to 8 years imprisonment for causing death by dangerous driving.

He is described a white, 28-years-old, 5ft 8ins tall, slim build, short brown hair, blue eyes and has an Irish accent.

His last known address was in Leicester.

Anyone with any information about the whereabouts of this man is asked not to approach him but to immediately contact their local police or Crimestoppers annonymously 0800 555 111.

A violent partner was arrested by police just a few steps into his freedom walk from prison − and is now back in jail after police proved he made a threatening phone call to his ex whilst behind bars.

Marvin Trevis was detained as he set foot from Oakwood prison, Wolverhampton, on 28 March when it emerged he’d breached a restraining order by contacting a former girlfriend he’d previously been jailed for assaulting.

The 24-year-old, formerly of Latelow Road in Stechford, wrote several letters to the woman − who he once left black and blue after a curtain pole beating − under a different prisoner’s name in an attempt to avoid detection.

And in one call to her new mobile phone − a number that didn’t feature on a banned list he was prohibited from dialling − he made numerous threats of violence.

Police obtained a recording of the call and prison staff intercepted several of the letters − and at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday (April 4) he admitted breaching the restraining order and was jailed for another 51 weeks.

West Midlands Police Chief Inspector Kim Madill, from the force’s Public Protection Unit, said: “The order is indefinite and bans him from going near his ex-partner − someone he has a history of violence against − or contacting her either directly or indirectly.

“The order is for her own safety but, despite the breach, she didn’t want to support the case and actually tried visiting him in jail under a pseudonym. However, he poses such a high level of risk to her that we pursued this prosecution for her own safety.

’We understand that victims of domestic abuse sometimes feel reluctance to support a prosecution, which often shows the level of control that perpetrators have over their victims. Such control comes in many forms: fear, emotional and financial abuse, or a misguided belief they are somehow responsible for the violence.’

“We will now continue working with his victim, together with domestic abuse support groups and our hope is to help her recognise the abuse she’s suffered and assist her in breaking free from this abusive relationship.”

Trevis was jailed for 21 months in October 2012 for beating his partner with a curtain pole.

He was released on licence on May 13 last year but just two days later police found he’d flouted the restraining order by visiting his ex at her Birmingham home where officers found him hiding in bushes having bolted from a rear door.

He was returned to prison until his release and latest arrest on March 28 this year.

Chief Insp Madill, added: “There’s no excuse for domestic abuse and we’re working hard, as this case proves, to deal strongly with offenders and protect victims.

“I’d urge anyone experiencing domestic abuse not to suffer in silence and to contact police or a support agency like Women’s Aid. We know how difficult it can be to break free but we have specially trained, experienced officers who can offer practical advice to leave abusive relationships and make a fresh start.”

To speak to a public protection officer call West Midlands Police on 101.

A Birmingham man who built a house the size of Buckingham Palace by dodging taxes has been jailed.

Mohammed Suleman Khan, 41, was arrested from his gated Edgbaston residency three years ago on suspicion of money laundering.

The lengthy police probe – sparked by the concerns of local people – found evidence of tax and national insurance evasion.

Detectives from Force CID worked with HM Revenue and Customs officials to probe the finances of the Birmingham born debt collector and businessman who claimed to have an annual income of no more than £40,000.

But despite finding 13 paper wraps banks use to secure £1,000 bundles all bearing the same date stamp, and after scrutinising phone and computer records, there were limited financial records leading investigators to believe that Khan only used cash and had few assets.

Determined to uncover the truth, detectives worked with the social policy research charity, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, to compare cost of living fees with his lifestyle and established that to maintain his standard of living would require earnings in excess of £1 million over the nine year period between 2001 and 2012.

The probe also uncovered plans for a house the size of Buckingham Palace in Ghorghusti in the Attok attock region of Pakistan.

The blueprints showed the mansion had its own cinema, library, servant’s quarters and even a guard house for a security team.

Experts estimated that construction would have cost £2.3 million although there was no official record of ownership.

Talking about the investigation, Detective Inspector Andy Bannister, from Force CID, said: “This was an intelligence led policing operation sparked by community concerns. The nature of Khan’s offending meant that this was a particularly complex investigation in which detectives had to piece together information from a range of sources − including satellite imaging data on the property − to secure charges.

“Khan’s bank accounts bore no resemblance to his day-to-day-living. He maintained he was a debt collector and business man but failed to provide investigators or the court with any evidence to back this up.

“He had his day in court and was ultimately found to have cheated the public revenue by not paying tax or national insurance contributions.”

At a special hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on 4 April, Khan was sentenced to four years behind bars after the judge, his honour Judge Andrew Menary QC, ruled that Khan had defrauded the public purse through tax and national insurance evasion over nine years. His criminal act meant he owed public coffers just over £445,000 in tax.

Chief Superintendent Alex Murray, responsible for policing in east Birmingham, said: “Khan was perceived by some people in the community to be untouchable. That perception was shattered by his arrest, charge and later, his conviction.

“The joint action taken by police and HM Revenue and Customs proves that where communities trust local officers and confide in them, we are able to piece that information together with other data and where appropriate launch an investigation.

“This may take time but we will always seek justice to be served on those who don’t operate within the law like the vast majority of hard working people do.

“For people who want to exploit the system for their own gain, the message from West Midlands Police is that we will stop you, whether that is through criminal law, through Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions or others.

“Communities are fed up of people thinking they are above the law and are increasingly standing up to be counted.”

Detectives are now working to claw back the cash and any other assets through the Proceeds of Crime Act which will see the money ploughed back into community crime fighting initiatives in the West Midlands.

People can share their concerns about people living and committing crime in their community to police on 101 or anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A husband who killed his wife before incinerating her body in his back garden to cover up his sexuality has today (April 11) been found guilty of murder.

The jury returned the guilty verdict after hearing how Jasvir Ram Ginday carefully conceived a plan to murder his bride, just a month after 24-year-old Varkha Rani had arrived in the UK following their arranged marriage in India in March 2013.

In 2008, Ginday had confided in a friend that he was attracted to men but that he could not tell his family as his mother was very strict. It later emerged that Ginday was frequenting gay bars and having relationships with men around the time of his engagement to Varkha in 2012.

Bank worker Ginday, 32, lived with his new wife in the house they shared with his parents in Victory Lane, Walsall for just a month and two days after she had arrived from India to start her married life with only £10 in her possession given to her by her mother.

On the morning of Thursday 12 September, Walsall-born Ginday had run some errands with his mother, her friend and Varkha. During the afternoon, Ginday ran another errand – this time alone.

He drove to a petrol station and filled his silver Vauxhall Corsa − he also filled a two litre water bottle with petrol but tried to hide the act behind his open car door. The garage assistant became suspicious of his actions and zoomed the forecourt camera in and recorded his actions.

At 2pm that same afternoon, Ginday’s mother and her friend left the Victory Lane address leaving the married couple alone. Within an hour of his mother leaving, neighbours began to see smoke coming from the back garden of the Walsall address. At 3.45pm − when Varkha was already dead − a lying Ginday called his mother and asked her to remain away from the home as Varkha had wanted to give him a surprise.

Brutal Ginday had killed his wife minutes after they were left alone and then forced her lifeless body into the garden incinerator – bought just six days after Varkha arrived in the country. He then lit a fire in an attempt to conceal his cruel act. Throughout the afternoon and again the following morning when the fire was reset, Ginday poked Varkha’s burning body with a metal pole and broom handle in a bid to break it up and get rid of any trace of his wife.

Ginday called his aunt and his mother on Thursday evening and asked them to come to the house immediately. When the relatives arrived at Victory Lane, they found Ginday crying and nursing scratches to his face and arms. He told them that Varkha had taken £500 and some clothes and had left him.  He also told them he had had an altercation with his wife and he had changed his clothing because it had blood on it.

At 9pm that evening Ginday and his uncle went to Walsall police station, he showed officers his injuries and told them that his wife had assaulted him but he did not want to make a formal complaint. He told police that he had intended to take his wife for a surprise meal but that she had left him − he made a formal missing persons report.

Local police returned with Ginday to the Victory Lane address at 10pm that evening and searched the house but as it was dark they did not venture into the garden − they found nothing untoward in the property.

The following day, police continued to progress the missing persons report and as part of their investigations conducted house to house enquiries. As a result on these enquiries, they became aware of the smoke which had been emanating from the property the previous day.

Officers carried out a search of the garden and saw a metal incinerator, they asked Ginday what was inside and he replied “It’s food”. The PC lifted the lid of the incinerator to discover the gruesome remains of a human skull.

An unburned black plastic bin liner was found partially covering the body, when examined one fingerprint belonging to Ginday was found on the liner. A ring was also found in the incinerator which bore the inscription “V and G 2013″ − Varkha’s wedding band.

Police also discovered a burnt mattress in parkland behind the Walsall home as well as burnt jewellery and paperwork relating to his marriage.

Varkha’s cousin Sunil Kumar said: “No words can truly express the sadness and hurt my family and I are experiencing at the loss of Varkha, she was loved dearly by all, she had a great passion for life and doted on her family.

“Varkha attained a masters degree and was driven to make her life a success, unfortunately she fell prey to Ginday who had ulterior motives which Varkha would not have appreciated.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a man was taken to hospital with injuries to his face following an assault in Redditch Town Centre.

The victim, who is 18 years old, was standing near to Lloyds TSB in Church Green East at about 12.45pm on Tuesday afternoon (8 April) when he was approached by a male who punched him in the face. He was knocked to the floor and suffered injuries to his mouth.

An ambulance was called and took him to the town’s Alexandra Hospital.

PC Nick Gianfaga, who is investigating, said: “This was a nasty assault and appears to have been unprovoked. We are still trying to put together a description of the offender but bearing in mind this happened in the town centre in broad daylight it may well have been witnessed by other people.

“If you saw anything or know who was responsible then I would urge you to come forward with that information at the earliest opportunity.”

PC Gianfagna can be reached at Redditch Police Station on the non-emergency number 101, quoting incident reference 281-S-080414. Details may also be left anonymously with the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Police are appealing for witnesses and asking the public to take security steps after a young girl was subjected to a serious sexual assault in Shrewsbury on Friday.

At around 3.45pm on Friday afternoon (11 April), a 10-year-old girl was walking along St Michael’s Street towards Ditherington Road when she was approached from, behind by a teenage boy who asked her to help him find something he had lost.

He led her to a disused area near the Arc car wash centre where he took her out of sight behind a container and sexually assaulted her for some time. He left the area and the girl left later and raised the alarm. The girl has described her attacker as being white and aged between 13 and 17.

Detective Chief Inspector Jon Marsden, who is leading the investigation, said: “Such crimes are extremely rare, but clearly this is a very worrying offence and we need to find the youth responsible as soon as possible.

“We have a team of officers working on the case, including specially trained officers who, over the weekend, have been working with the girl and her family. We have also conducted forensic tests, house-to-house inquiries and a trawl of CCTV in the area.

“We are at the early stages of the investigation, so are unable to release many details at this stage, but we hope to be able to give further updates in the coming days.

“We need anyone who was in the area of St Michael’s Street on Friday afternoon and saw anyone acting suspiciously to get in touch – any tiny piece of information could be useful. We would particularly like to speak to anyone who saw a teenage male with a younger girl between 3.45pm and 4pm.

“Also, if you think you may know who the boy is, you need to contact the police immediately. We believe he is local, not least because he seems to have good knowledge of the area.

DCI Marsden added that until he is found, families are advised to take simple steps to make sure their children are as safe as possible.  “Without wanting to alarm parents and guardians too much, I would recommend that, if at all possible, primary school-aged children are supervised when away from home either by yourselves or a trusted adult.

“This week it is the Easter holidays, so for the time being, we suggest parents make sure they know where their children are and if possible stay in contact via mobile phone.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Shrewsbury CID via the non-emergency police number, 101. Information can passed on anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote the reference number 599s 11/04/14.

Police in Dudley have released an image of a man wearing a distinctive three coloured coat that they want to trace in connection with a number of fraudulent transactions using a stolen BP fuel card across the Black Country.

The man, described as an Asian male in his mid twenties, around 6ft tall and stocky, wearing a black and white and red striped distinctive coat, was caught on CCTV using the card which had been stolen from an address in Halesowen at Christmas last year.

Between 30 December 2013 and January 2 2014, the card was used over 25 times at six local BP fuelling stations in Halesowen, Warley. Quinton, Lye, Oldbury and West Bromwich, resulting in over £4,000 worth of oil and fuel being stolen.

PC Steve Judd-Ingram from Dudley’s Vehicle Team said: “Officers investigating these transactions have already arrested and charged two men aged 34 and 29 in connection with the fraud. One man was charged with one offence and the other charged with four transactions. Both pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.

“However I still want to trace the man captured on CCTV, who we believe was involved in 20 of these fraudulent transactions and I would like to hear from anyone who recognises him to call the vehicle team at Dudley on 101.”

An investigation has been launched following a stabbing in Erdington last night (14 April) which left a man critically ill in hospital.

Emergency services were called to a report of a disturbance on Slade Road near the junction with St Thomas Road at around 10:50pm.

On arrival they found a 24-year-old man with stab wounds. He was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Slade Road has been closed in both directions between Fentham Road and Abbey Road.

Chief Inspector Neil Hobson said: “Our investigation is at a very early stage and we’re currently following up several lines of enquiry, as well as speaking to witnesses and trawling CCTV footage.

“A young man is fighting for his life in hospital, so if anyone saw anything last night and has not yet spoken to us, I would urge them to come forward as soon as possible.

“Slade Road is likely to remain closed for much of this morning as it’s vital we fully examine the crime scene during daylight hours.”

If anyone has any information about what happened or has any concerns they should call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police in Birmingham have released CCTV images of three men who carried out a violent attack on a homeless man in broad daylight in the centre of Sutton Coldfield.

The unprovoked attack took place on Wednesday 26 March at 5.45pm in Queens Street.

A total of four men surrounded the 20-year-old man and punched and kicked him in the head and body, before running off.

The man suffered cuts and bruises following the assault.

PC Gary Robinson from the Investigation Team, Sutton Coldfield, said: “This was a violent assault in broad daylight on a vulnerable homeless man, who was only prevented from further harm when a member of the public intervened.”

There were a total of four men who carried out the assault and police have managed to obtain clear CCTV images of three of them- they are described as two white men and one black man, aged 20-25, between 5’6-5’10, but there were a number of other people, including one woman who were in the group watching the assault.”

Anyone who recognises the men in the images should contact the Investigation Team at Birmingham North on 101.

The father of Connan McLeod has spoken of the family’s pain after his death and thanked the public for sharing the police appeals.

Connan’s father, Robert (Bob) McLeod, said: “Words cannot explain how we feel at this moment in time, at the loss of Connan. Family and friends are at a loss for words.

“We would like to thank the police for their quick response and support, also family and friends, and all the people of Staffordshire for sharing the information from the police website, to help bring a conclusion to the incident, also for their words of condolence and support at this tragic time.”

Sadly, Connan, aged 22, from Stone, died from a serious stab wound after an incident in Whitemill Lane in Stone at around 12.20am on Saturday 12 April. 

Daniel Allott, 26, of Bagots Oak, Stafford, appeared before magistrates at Cannock on Monday 14 April charged with murder. He was remanded in custody to appear at Stafford Crown Court Wednesday 16 April.

Two 20-year-old men remain on police bail while the investigation continues.

Police  found a sawn-off shotgun and 51 rounds of ammunition hidden inside a lawnmower when they searched the home of a burglary suspect.

Teenager Gavin Sohal had been arrested by detectives investigating a Balsall Common break-in where an Audi A4 was stolen after keys and a wallet were swiped from a kitchen drawer.

Eagle-eyed officers identified Sohal as a suspect when security cameras caught him using one of the stolen bank cards at a cash point shortly after the late night 11 October burglary last year.

And when a search team sifted through his Coniston Road, Erdington, home on December 4 they found the double-barrelled shotgun and cartridges concealed inside a lawnmower’s grass trimmings basket.

The firearm’s serial number led police to link it to a break-in at an address in Atherstone, Warwickshire, on March 5 last year where thieves forced open a patio door to gain entry − the same tactic used during the Greenfield Avenue, Balsall Common, offence.

Sohal admitted burglary and possessing a firearm and at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday (April 11) he was jailed for five years for possessing a firearm and an additional 18 months for burglary.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Kate Fitzgerald from West Midlands Police Force CID, said: “We’ve linked Sohal to two burglaries…we’ll now revisit other break-ins where similar entry tactics have been used and consider if he could be responsible for more.

“We have teams of search specialists, including sniffer dogs trained to detect firearms, available to support police warrants. Criminals may believe they’ve found ingenious hiding places for evidence but many, like Sohal, are quickly proved wrong.

“There’s no evidence to suggest Sohal used the firearm in anger or to assist in any offences but simply possessing a weapon is a very serious offence and one that’s guaranteed to result in a lengthy jail term.”

Bank enquiries revealed £300 was taken from the Audi driver’s account at 3am on October 12 with CCTV cameras catching the moment Sohal withdrew the cash from an ATM at Tesco’s Aston Lane store.

Another, this time unsuccessful, withdrawal attempt was made at TSB in Great Barr’s Walsall Road 10 minutes later and a CCTV trawl by police showed the Audi A4 being driven away from the bank at speed.

When Sohal (19) was arrested by detectives on 23 October from his home address he was wearing a jacket similar to that being worn by the cash-point thief, whilst communications analysis revealed he was at the scene of both the burglary and the cash point.

DC Fitzgerald, added: “Sohal was a fairly familiar face to us having been previously arrested for drugs offences and aggravated vehicle taking − and when we looked at the CCTV footage we suspected Sohal was the burglar.”

The streets of Halesowen are being turned into a no-go zone for bogus-callers in a joint operation between police and trading standards officers.

Neighbourhood officers in Belle Vale and Hayley Green, along with Dudley Council’s trading standards team have been offering crime prevention advice to residents living in streets that have previously been targeted by bogus-callers and rogue traders.

The first of the action days took place earlier last week (Wednesday 9 April) and saw officers check 23 people who were carrying out work on properties within the area to check that they were trading legally.

Signs are also going up in the area warning rogue traders they will be reported if they ‘cold call’ in the new No Rogue Trader Zone.

As part of the initiative leaflets were delivered advising residents to be alert to people turning up unannounced and convince them to get costly and unnecessary work carried out on their homes.
Pest control, path cleaning and hedge trimming are just some of the common cons with other fraudsters claiming to be carrying out water main repairs or even posing as police officers.

Sergeant Heather Sloan, of the Belle Vale and Hayley Green neighbourhood teams, said: “Initiatives like this are really beneficial to our elderly and vulnerable members of the community.

“Working with trading standards has enabled us to flood over 15 streets across the area offering crime prevention advice and reassurance to those who need it.”

John Millar, director of urban environment at Dudley Council, added: “We work hard as a local authority, in partnership with police, to tackle rogue traders and ensure people are protected from these criminals.

“We also have a very successful Fix A Home scheme where people can search for reputable traders to carry out work on their home, and avoid being a victim of a rogue trader. Details can be found on our website at http://www.dudley.gov.uk/ or by calling Dudley Council Plus on 0300 555 2345.”

For advice on how to beat the bogus caller visit: http://www.safer-homes.org/

A suspected terrorist from the West Midlands has admitted two breaches of restrictions placed on him under terrorism prevention measures known as TPIMs (Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures).

The man, who for legal reasons can only be identified as FF, admitted the offences at the Old Bailey today.

He was charged with attending an unauthorised meeting and using a computer without prior permission. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

The man has been on remand since his arrest by officers from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit last September.

Det Supt Shaun Edwards, head of investigations for WM CTU, said: “These measures are imposed to protect the public and we will always take swift action when they are breached.”