Members of a drugs gang who supplied heroin and crack cocaine in Derby have been jailed for a total of more than 60 years.

Operation Rams was a lengthy investigation into a 15-strong network of dealers and their associates, who were led by David Stewart.

The gang ran a number of drugs supply ‘shops’ at addresses across Derby, pumping a large amount of the class A substances into the city.

Officers involved in the operation carried out a number of raids at flats and houses linked to the gang, including properties in St Chad’s Road, Grange Street and Drewry Court.

Meanwhile, an undercover officer infiltrated a group of drug users and visited the ‘shops’ to gather more intelligence.

The police effort paid off last year with the arrests of 15 members of the gang, who were all later charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and conspiracy to supply crack cocaine.

They were all sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, November 4. Twelve were locked up, while three were handed suspended sentences.

Detective Sergeant Jonathan Smith said: “Operation Rams has been a lengthy investigation into organised crime in Derby.

“David Stewart and his associates were running a class A drugs supply ‘shop’ from various residential places, which involved exploiting vulnerable people for use of their premises.

“This was something they had done for a number of years.

“The Operation Redshank team led this meticulous investigation with the support of other colleagues in the police service, partners and other organisations.

“The partnership approach resulted in these defendants being prosecuted and sent to prison.

“Organised crime reaches deep into communities with crippling effects which are sometimes not noticed until it is too late.

“Within Derbyshire we tackle it head-on with operations such as this and we will continue to do so.”

The full sentences were:

David Stewart, 41, of no fixed addressed (ringleader): Eight years

Imogen Mellor, 25, of Mostyn Avenue, Littleover (second in command from January to May): Four years and eight months

Troy Brown, 21, of no fixed address (part of inner circle – very high-end significant role): Four years and eight months

Ricky Steadman, 28, of City Road, Derby (part of inner circle – very high end significant role): Six years

Simon Wray, 47, of Parker Street, Derby (part of inner circle – high end of significant role): Six years

Nicola Ward, 38, of Highfields Park Drive, Derby (very high end significant role): Four years and eight months

Alan Saunders, 51, of Masson Walk, Derby (part of inner circle – high end of significant role): Seven years

Baldeep Bains, 25, of Cannock Court, Derby (a significant role between June and September and allowed his address to be used): Three years and four months

Simon Wilsoncroft, 31, of Ashwood Close, Derby (became part of inner circle – a significant role between April and September): Three years and four months

John Walker, 53, of Buckland Close, Derby (predominantly responsible for transportation of gang members and drugs and allowed address to be used – significant role): Two years

Michael George, 33, of Mortimer Street, Allenton (significant role but not part of inner circle): Two years and eight months

Francis Renner, 29, of Siddals Road, Derby (allowed his premises to be used – a lesser role): Two years.

Nicollette Attenborough, 26, of Bainbridge Street, Derby (allowed her address to be used – high to lesser role): Two years, suspended for two years

Kirsty Bratby, 24, of Elmtree Avenue, Derby (significant role): Two years, suspended for two years

Kelly Thompson, 32, of No fixed address (lesser role): Two years, suspended for two years.

Detectives have launched an investigation after a man attempted to snatch an elderly woman’s neck chain and dragged her along the pavement when the chain wouldn’t break.

The attempted robbery took place on West Bromwich High Street at the junction with Trinity Way just before 1.30pm on Wednesday 10 September as the 77-year-old was waiting to cross the road.

The callous thief grabbed the chain and dragged the woman several yards in an attempt to break it from her, before passers-by rushed to her aid and he ran off, making his getaway in a waiting black Vauxhall Astra.

Investigating officer PC Stephen Foy said: “The force of the attack left the woman with a fractured hip which left her in hospital for several weeks. The shock of the incident has had a devastating effect on her.

“We have trawIed CCTV from the area around the incident and taken statements from witnesses and now I am hoping that someone will recognise the man and get in touch.”

PC Foy can be contacted on 101 or alternatively information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Detectives have launched an investigation after a man was stabbed while working at a fish and chip shop in Birmingham yesterday (6 November).

The 51-year-old man was working at Simply Fish and Chips in Hagley Road West, Quinton when another man approached the shop and smashed the front window.

The shop worker tried to stop the man who then assaulted him and stabbed him several times. The attack happened at around 3.20pm.

Police and paramedics attended and the man was rushed to hospital where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

The suspect is described as mixed race and was wearing a grey hooded top, grey tracksuit bottoms and a black beanie hat. He ran off along Hagley Road West towards the city.

Detective Inspector Wendy Bailey, from Force CID, said: “We are in the early stages of this investigation but it appears the attack was completely unprovoked. We are currently examining CCTV footage from the scene and surrounding area which remains taped off this morning.

“The man has suffered very serious injuries and he remains in critical care at hospital. We need to hear from anyone who was in the area yesterday and saw who was responsible.

“Someone out there knows who he is and we would urge anyone with any information that could help us to come forward as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information should contact DI Bailey as soon as possible on 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 11.

The group − who also tried to threaten the man into dropping the case by firing a shotgun at his premises – were convicted of conspiracy to rob and witness intimidation offences at Birmingham Crown Court earlier this week and were sentenced today (Friday, 7 November).

The victim’s ordeal started on 3 January, when he was kidnapped outside his family’s city centre massage parlour, after being bundled into a white van by four men who then drove him to a nearby house.

Once inside − while cable tied with a blanket over his head – his kidnappers assaulted him and demanded up to £200,000 protection payment from him, saying if he did not cooperate he would be killed.

He was then dropped off at a supermarket in Stechford and the victim later decided to report his ordeal to the police.

The offenders continued to contact the victim with demands for money and the victim eventually agreed to place £20,000 in a bin in a car park of the Star City leisure complex on 7 January.

Undercover officers were deployed to the area and saw a silver Audi − registered to Daniel Wood − turn up in the car park. Wood began to search the bins but could not find anything and got back in his car. A BMW − containing Tobias Uter and Mahmood Abouakkour then pulled up near the bins and Abouakkour began to search for the money bag.

Grabbing it, he got back in the BMW and tried to leave the car park when they were swarmed by police. They threw the money bag from the car but – along with Wood − they were arrested.

From there, the evidence against the gang began to accumulate: a phone found in the BMW matched the number of the mobile which had been calling the victim to demand the money. Scarves and gloves were also found inside the car.

Behind the scenes, officers spent hours trawling through automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras and CCTV. They discovered the only white van to have triggered the ANPR shutters in the right area on the day of the kidnap belonged to Daniel Roberts.

Officers went to his home address in Gloucester and seized the van, where they found a bean bag −which the victim stated seeing in the van when he was kidnapped – blanket, balaclava and an axe.

Along with Woods, Uter and Abouakkour, Roberts was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap and commit blackmail and were subsequently charged with those offences.

However, the gang decided to take drastic action to avoid being brought to justice.

Uter and Abouakkour, who were sharing a cell while on remand in prison, had managed to get hold of a mobile phone. On 17 January, they began calling the victim’s club and left a message with the receptionist saying he had 24 hours to drop the charges.  The victim did not give in to the threats, but Uter and Abouakkour were not deterred. On 11 February, a car pulled up outside the victim’s club and a man fired a shotgun at the entrance, shouting: ‘drop the charges!’

CCTV of the car used in the shooting was circulated to officers and five days later, it was spotted and the driver, Karl Williams, was arrested on suspicion of being the gunman. The car was seized and inside, a mobile phone was recovered which was found to have made calls to Uter and Abouakkour’s prison phone. Further inquiries led to the arrest of his girlfriend, Laura Lamb, who was the driver of the car on the night of the shooting.

Williams and Lamb were subsequently charged with attempted witness intimidation and firearms offences.

During a six-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Abbuakkour, aged 21, of, Shifnal Walk, Longbridge, denied conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to blackmail and two counts of attempted witness intimidation in respect of the phone calls and shooting at the club. He was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.

Uter, aged 32 of New Inns Close, Handsworth, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to blackmail, but denied two counts of attempted witness intimidation in respect of the phone calls and shooting at the club. He was handed a sentence of 18 years and 6 months.

Gloucester man Roberts, aged 40 and of Matson Avenue, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to kidnap and one count of conspiracy to blackmail. He was sentenced to 9 years and 10 months.

Williams and Lamb both denied one count of attempted witness intimidation and possessing a firearm with intent to cause violence, with Williams denying a further charge of possessing a firearm while prohibited. The pair were convicted of the offences and jailed for 13 years and 5 years, respectively.

Initially charged with conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to blackmail, Wood, aged 23 and of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of arranging to facilitate the acquisition of criminal property in respect of collecting the money from the ransom. He was released with his time already being served while on remand.

Detective Inspector Tom Chisholm led the investigation to bring the gang to justice. He said: “The defendants in this investigation were an organised and determined group, who went to considerable lengths to kidnap and blackmail the victim.

“We are committed to reducing serious and organised crime in the West Midlands and we are satisfied with the sentences handed to them, which reflect the grave nature of their offences.

“We also hope it shows that crime really does not pay and deters others from getting involved in such crimes.

“I would like to thank the prosecution team of police investigators, Crown Prosecution Service and counsel for securing these convictions and of course, the victim for his cooperation and refusal to be intimidated by this criminal group.”

British troops pulled out of Afghanistan at the end of last month bringing to an end a 13-year military campaign − but the withdrawal came too late for Joyce Doherty.

Joyce’s son Jeff − who served with the Parachute Regiment − was among the 453 soldiers who gave their lives to the conflict, killed during an intense fire-fight with Taliban forces that attacked their Helmand base on 12 June 2008.

He died just two days after his 20th birthday.

Joyce will spend tomorrow’s two-minute Armistice silence remembering him beside a fledgling tree planted in Coventry’s Memorial Park in honour of her hero son.

But when the poppies retreat for another year the 40-year-old, from Southam, will continue to take comfort from a most unlikely source…a West Midlands Police dog.

Jet black German shepherd JJ was named after Private Doherty − known as JJ to family, friends and regiment colleagues − after Joyce met the force’s police dog Breed Scheme manager Terry Arnett at a meeting of military charity Pilgrim Bandits.

Joyce explained: “Following JJ’s death we set-up the JJ Memorial Fund − a charity raising money for injured paratroopers and their families − and after getting to know Terry he suggested naming one of their new puppies after him.

“I thought it was a lovely idea…they’ve kept me updated on his progress through training and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting JJ and his handler Wayne several times.

“He’s a fantastic dog, full of life, very playful and from what Wayne tells me is full of fighting spirit…everything we remember of JJ himself.”

Puppy JJ was born into the West Midlands Police breed scheme on 2 March 2013 and, after coming through training with flying colours, turned operational alongside handler PC Wayne Mellings last month.

He hit the ground running and on his first outing on 27 October tracked down a suspected burglar hiding in an Acocks Green garden and sniffed out a glove believed to have been discarded by the man.

PC Mellings, said: “JJ found the glove and then tracked along alleyways towards a derelict garage. He wanted to scale the roof, indicating the suspect made off in that direction, and as we made our way through the adjacent garden the man emerged and surrendered.

“The following day we were called to a cannabis farm officers had discovered in Halesowen. One man had run from the back door but was found by JJ hiding behind a shed…and it’s fair to say he didn’t get far when he tried to out run JJ.

“JJ has impressed everyone he’s met with his search skills and work drive…apart from the criminals!”

PC Terry Arnett volunteers as an event co-ordinator for Pilgrim Bandits, a charity formed in 2007 by Special Forces veterans with the aim of using their unique training and experience to help and inspire wounded soldiers to live life to the full.

He added: “The Parachute Regiment motto is Utrinque Paratus: Ready for Anything − police dog JJ has showed he’s operating in the regiment’s true spirit and I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to Jeff and 2 Para.”

Private Jeff Doherty of 8 Platoon of C (Bruneval) Company, 2 Battalion Parachute Regiment died on 12 June 2008 after being engaged by the Taliban north of their base at FOB Gibraltar in the Upper Gereshk Valley, Helmand Province.

Gary Leitch who absconded from Sudbury Prison has handed himself in to Greater Manchester Police.

Leitch handed himself in to Cheadle Heath police station. He absconded from the prison on Saturday, February 1.

He was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court on 4^th March 2008 to an indeterminate sentence for false imprisonment and assaults.

Police investigating an assault outside a Dudley wine bar have today (Monday 10 November) arrested a man after clear CCTV footage was released showing the attack.

The assault took place outside Montys Wine Bar in High Street, Sedgley on Saturday 27 September. A 43-year-old man was knocked to the ground after being punched and suffered facial injuries.

Investigating officers shared CCTV footage and appealed for information about the attack, following which, a 21-year-old man went into a police station today and was arrested on suspicion of assault and bailed while further enquiries take place.

PC Stewart Turner from the force’s Violent Crime Team thanked everyone who came forward with information following the appeal.

A Birmingham drugs dealer, who forced a vulnerable man into selling drugs for him and then tried to blackmail his family into paying for his release, has been jailed for nine years.

Paul Russell, aged 44, from Herne Close, Ladywood was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday 7 November, after he was found guilty of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and blackmail.

The court heard how Russell had ‘recruited’ a vulnerable man in Birmingham City Centre in August 2013,  by befriending him and taking the man and his girlfriend to Norwich, where he housed him in a known crack cocaine den.

The man was then coerced to work for Russell by selling heroin and crack cocaine on the streets to users.

When the man tried to escape after three weeks, he was beaten by Russell and forced to call his family in Devon to ask for money to replace a ‘stash’ of drugs that Russell had accused him of losing.

The family received a number of distraught calls from the victim and Russell, that he was being held against his will and feared for his life.

In September 2013, the man’s family travelled to Birmingham with the cash, but before the exchange took place, officers from the force’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, together with support from Pro Active Traffic units stopped Russell’s Mercedes Benz. The vehicle was brought to a safe stop at Coventry Road, Small Heath, Russell was arrested, the victim was recovered.

DCI Simon Wallis from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit said: “Russell took advantage of the man’s vulnerability. The victim was not from the city and had clear mental health issues. Russell took him to Norwich, re-housed him in a crack den, coerced and then forced him to sell drugs. When the victim tried to leave, he was beaten, threatened and made to call his family to plead for cash for his safe release.”

“Fortunately the police were able to intercept Russell’s journey to Birmingham and arrest him. Russell was found to have a huge range of convictions, including assaults and dishonesty offences as well as drug trafficking, for which he has received custodial sentences. I welcome the fact he has now been jailed for nine years.”

” Although the man recruited by Russell was a victim in this case, it could not be ignored that he did take part in serious criminal offences, and he was separately charged with supplying Class A drugs, to which he pleaded guilty and was given an 18-month suspended sentence, earlier this year”.

A Wolverhampton man is starting eight and a half years behind bars today after killing a cyclist in a collision in Wolverhampton last year.

Kile Straker was travelling along the Stafford Road in a black Seat Leon at speeds averaging 60mph in the 40mph zone just after 12.30pm on Thursday 11 July 2013. A white van pulled out to overtake keen and well experienced cyclist George Searle just before the Fiveways Island on the inter city section of the road at the junction with Fox’s Lane, but Straker, travelling behind, undertook the van and collided with the 74-year-old, leaving him with fatal injuries.

Passers-by rushed to Mr Searle’s aid, but nothing could be done to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Straker, aged 24 from Armstrong Drive, Dunstall Park, failed to stop at the scene of the collision and the damaged car was recovered later that day at a local garage. Collision investigators carried out extensive enquiries which lead them to execute an arrest warrant for Straker just over six weeks later.  He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing death while uninsured on 26 November after answering bail.

Straker pleaded guilty to the charges and was today sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court to eight and a half years in prison and disqualified from driving for ten years.

PC Claire Byrne, from the Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This collision has had a devastating effect on the family of Mr Searle, who not only had to deal with the loss of their loved one, but also had to endure a lengthy process to bring Straker to justice.

“We are pleased with the sentence today, which will give him time to contemplate the consequences of his actions.”

After today’s sentencing Mr Searle’s family said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who helped George on that tragic day, the people who stopped and helped him, the Ambulance Service and the police.

“No sentence will ever bring our Dad, Husband and Grandad back. We will forever miss George, he was a true gentleman, a kind and loving man.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis has pledged £2,500 to the Staffordshire Retired Police Dog Fund.

Police dogs are an integral part of policing across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, providing an invaluable service to reduce crime and increase community safety.

Police dogs may retire at a young age due to illness or injury which may have been sustained as part of their duty. Police dogs retiring from service do not receive any financial support and adopters are often unable to source insurance for ongoing veterinary bills. The fund will aim to assist in the ongoing treatment with the hope of taking away any financial pressures.

Earlier this year Mr Ellis took part in the ice bucket challenge with half of all donations going to the Retired Police Dog Fund and the other half toward motor neurone disease.

Mr Ellis said: “Police dogs provide an invaluable service working alongside officers to ensure the public are kept safe.

“The Staffordshire retired police dog charity does such a great job in looking after these dogs after they retire and I wanted to give the dogs something back for their service.”

Hayley Birkin, Chairperson for the fund, said: “The Staffordshire Retired Police Dog Fund was established a year ago to raise funds and awareness of the retired Staffordshire police dogs and ensure the dogs enjoy a long and healthy retirement.

“This year we have raised £4,000 and assisted in the veterinary costs of retired dogs. The fund has received £2,500 from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner which will be used to offer assistance in the form of a pension to any retired Staffordshire police dog that joins our fund.”

Anyone interested in donating can email retiredstaffspolicedogs@gmail.com or visit www.staffsretiredpolicedogs.org.

Derbyshire Police are searching for a wanted man with links to Birmingham.

Mark Trongone, 31, absconded from HMP Sudbury yesterday (10 November 2014).

Trongone was sentenced at Chester Crown Court and was serving 6 years for robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.

He is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall, medium build, shaved head, brown eyes and has a scar on top of head.

Trongone has links to North Wales, Warrington, Birmingham and Greater Manchester areas.

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 anonymously 0800 555 111.

“We were looking to score all day but were unable to do so as the dealers were too scared to deal due to the police activity.”

These are the words of a Whitmore-Reans drug user made during a month long policing operation aimed at tackling criminality in the Wolverhampton suburb.

Overheard by officers, the comments show how a determined and proactive approach by officers in the area saw them triumph over drug dealers and the associated crime they inflict on the community.

The operation was launched after residents − fed up with dealers and an influx of drug users discarding needles in public areas − asked the police to take action.

In a series of strike days, officers from the local neighbourhood policing team – supported by other Wolverhampton police teams as well as the dogs and traffic units – arrested 12 people, seized large quantities of Class A drugs, recovered hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash and took three vehicles suspected of transporting drugs off the roads.

Highlights include:

• Officers stopped an Audi on Bridgnorth Road on 8 November at 1.20pm. A quantity of class A drugs were found in vehicle and the driver was arrested. Two addresses were subsequently searched and more than £150,000 in cash was found. The man, Nathan Campbell, aged 24, of Marsh Lane was charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply (cocaine and heroin), two counts of assaulting two officers during arrest, possession of a bladed article and acquiring criminal property. He appeared before Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court yesterday (10 November) where he was remanded into custody.
• A 43-year-old man was stopped in an Astra on Chester Street at 10.30am on 29 October and three bags of Class A drugs were recovered from the car. The driver was arrested on suspicion of drug possession and was later released on police bail while inquiries continue.
• On 23 October at 5.40pm a Volkswagen Golf was stopped in Clarendon Street for having no insurance. The car was seized and the driver was taken to a police station. Multiple wraps of crack-cocaine were then found in the police van and the 38-year-old was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. He has since been released on police bail while inquiries continue.

Sergeant Kevin Whitehouse who led the police activity said: “We’re pleased the operation, which provided a raised level of policing within the community to make the area uncomfortable and unattractive for both drug users and dealers, was able to achieve its intended aim.

“However, we are not complacent and this operation forms part of our long-term plan to tackle drug-related criminality in the area. We will be carrying out further strike days and we are asking local landlords to support us by evicting those convicted.

“There is a strong, vibrant and diverse community in Whitmore-Reans who do not want drugs in their area and with their support, we work toward achieving this and make the community a safer and better place to live.”

If you suspect drug dealing in your area, you can call police in confidence on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Local police are continuing to provide reassurance to residents in the Shelton area today after a man was charged with the murder of a woman during an incident in a flat on Sunday night.

The woman has now being formally identified as Eni Mevish, aged 20-years-old. She was a student at Staffordshire University and was living at the flat in Cauldon Road where the incident occurred but has family in the Manchester area.

Specially trained family liaison officers are working to support Eni’s immediate family at this very difficult time, providing support and information on the investigation and police action.

Professor Andrew Jackson from Staffordshire University said: “We are greatly saddened by the news of the death of Eni Mevish. This is a tragic loss and we offer our sincere condolences to her family and friends. Eni was a warm-hearted person and an able, enthusiastic and conscientious student. She was a very popular member of her cohort. There is no doubt that she will be truly missed by all who knew her.

Chief Inspector Martin Brereton from Stoke Central Local Policing Team said “I want to reassure the local residents and student community that we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and we can now confirm that the student who died and the male charged with her murder were known to each other. We have a dedicated police officer who works closely with the University Staff and the Students who is maintaining close contact with those affected by this tragic incident.

“Detectives, supported by local officers have conducted house to house enquiries in the area but are still urging anyone who might have seen or heard anything which could be connected to the incident to contact them. We are working to support the family of the woman and the injured male at this very difficult time with specially trained family liaison officers.”

David Keith Marshall, a 68-year-old, Stoke-on-Trent man, is appearing today at court. Marshall was arrested by police shortly after the incident on Sunday night which resulted in the death of a female student from Staffordshire University. A male student was also injured in the incident which occurred in the flat on Cauldon Road.

Police officers in Coventry investigating reports of child sexual exploitation (CSE), have this morning (Wednesday 12 November) arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of rape and supplying drugs.

Officers from the force’s Public Protection Unit, together with local officers, executed a warrant at an address in Wellington Street, Hillfields at 6am this morning; the man has been taken to a police station in Coventry for questioning.

A second man, aged 24, was arrested from the address on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

The arrest is part of an on-going investigation into CSE and it is expected further arrests will follow.

DCI Dean Young from Coventry PPU said: “Today’s arrest follows excellent work by local police officers and partners in Coventry to identify and target those suspected of being involved with CSE. I would like to reassure the community that the investigation continues and further arrests will follow.”

He added: “Child sexual exploitation affects all communities and it remains a top priority for us – nothing is more important in policing than protecting vulnerable people.”

CSE is a form of child abuse where victims are given commodities such as food, money, drugs, alcohol, gifts or affection in exchange for sexual activity with the abuser. Vulnerable young people are often targeted by offenders who then use physical, financial or emotional power to sexually abuse them.

The force has recently expanded its public protection unit and now has an extra 275 officers, which equates to 10 per cent of the force’s strength, bolstering existing resources. There are also local CSE co-ordinators across the force area and an enhanced central CSE investigation team, dedicated on line CSE team and more extensive child abuse investigation teams.

DCI Young added: “The public protection unit is at the forefront of protecting vulnerable children across the force but we recognise that this is the responsibility of every police officer, staff, PCSO and special constable.

“Since this time extensive work has been done to train officers across the force in identifying and dealing with CSE so we can gain as much intelligence as possible and thereby improving the outcomes for victims.

“We know that CSE affects all communities whether this is people that are being abused by family members in their own home, online or they are being groomed away from their home. We cannot do this work alone which is why we work with our key partners to look at how we can best tackle this together. This includes linking in with local youth centres and hotels in the area so they understand they have a role to play in safeguarding.”

A regional campaign − See Me Hear Me (www.seeme-hearme.org.uk) – launched in June this year and has seen all agencies responsible for tackling child sexual exploitation working to common standards of reporting and investigation.

For further information, advice and support visit this dedicated section of the West Midlands Police website:www.west-midlands.police.uk/childsexualexploitation

Detectives have launched an investigation after two friends were kicked to the floor in an unprovoked attack in Birmingham city centre.

The pair were sitting on steps in the Arcadian just after midnight on Friday 29 August when four men asked them for cash. When they refused the group kicked them to their heads and faces repeatedly.

The group eventually left with nothing but one friend lost consciousness for a short time and both received treatment from paramedics for cuts and bruises. Fortunately they have both made a full recovery.

Police have now released CCTV footage of the group they would like to trace.

Investigating officer DC Alexandrea Backrath said: “This was a brutal attack on two young men who were just taking a breather while on an evening out.

“We take the safety of people visiting the city very seriously and we are determined to bring to justice those who think they can prey on others visiting the city.

“I would urge anyone who recognise the men captured on CCTV to contact me as soon as possible to prevent this happening to someone else.”

All four are described as aged between 17 and 20 with short dark hair and average height. One wore a dark top with a white stripe down the arm, another wore a navy top and the other two wore dark clothing.

DC Backrath can be contacted on 101 or alternatively information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was found with serious injuries in the middle of the carriageway in Hockley this morning.

The man, believed to be in his 40s, was pronounced dead just after 4am this morning, after being found on Icknield Street, but the cause of his death still remains unclear.

Collision Investigator Sergeant Tim Rogers said: “There are various possibilities as to how this man came by his injuries, but we are keeping an open mind at this stage. We would like to hear from anyone who saw a black man with dreadlocks in the vicinity of Icknield Street during the early hours of this morning.”

The road remained closed between Hingeston Street and Pitsford Street for several hours while forensic experts looked for clues.

A post mortem will take place in due course.

Anyone with information is urged to called collision investigators on 101 or alternatively information can be given to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A Birmingham doctor has been jailed for 16 years for performing intimate examinations on female patients for his own gratification.

Dr Nafees Hamid − a neurosurgeon who worked at QE Hospital and the private Priory Hospital in Edgbaston − assaulted six women aged from 24 to 47 years old between January 2012 and June 2013.

He was convicted of the offences at Birmingham Crown Court earlier today (18 November) before being sentenced.

The 51-year-old molested most of the women during one-to-one consultations, with no chaperone present, and then failed to document the examinations in patient records. But on one occasion, sexually assaulted a QE patient on a ward in the middle of the night.

Many of the women turned to Hamid, or were recommended by GPs, for help to diagnose back and joint complaints but were left traumatised after he insisted they stripped from the waist down.

Hamid, from Russell Road in Moseley, claimed his intimate massages on some patients − most of which he conducted without wearing surgical gloves − were medically justified in order to assess levels of sensation, but insisted others were making up their accounts.

But an independent neurosurgeon, called at Birmingham Crown Court as an expert witness, deemed Hamid’s examinations were totally unjustified, whilst some victims reported Hamid was noticeably aroused at the time and asked questions about their sex life.

He denied 14 counts against 10 women but today a jury deemed he’d taken advantage of six patients in his care and found him guilty on a total of eight counts of sexual assault by digital penetration.

The jury cleared him on four counts of sexual assault against women aged 27, 52, 64 and 66 years old and a further count of digital penetration on a 42-year-old woman.

Detective Inspector Ian Ingram from West Midlands Police’s Public Protection Unit oversaw the police investigation. He said: “Hamid was a well-respected, hugely experienced doctor and neurosurgeon…that’s why he was able to get away with sexually assaulting patients for so long.

“Women who’ve suffered at his hands were left questioning ‘did that really happen’ and speculating ‘perhaps it was medically justified’ as they couldn’t believe a doctor would act in such a manner.

“We know there were also concerns amongst some patients that they wouldn’t be taken seriously and that their word wouldn’t be believed when against those of a medical expert.

“Well we believed them…and within just a few hours of the first woman contacting us with her concerns Hamid had been arrested and was in a police cell.

“As often happens in cases like these, it just takes one person to break their silence to give others the confidence to do the same. The women have shown great courage in coming forward and giving evidence in a trial. They have had to give details about incidents that were extremely personal and distressing in open court.

“But they can now take comfort that their actions have resulted in Hamid being convicted, put behind bars and saved any other women from potentially suffering at his hands.”

Hamid’s catalogue of offences came to light after a 25-year-old Birmingham woman saw him at Priory Hospital on 6 June last year for a persistent back complaint.

She contacted West Midlands Police shortly after the 11am appointment saying she’d been sexually assaulted during the examination − and within hours officers had arrested him from his Moseley home.

He was charged with the offence on November 19 and, after hundreds of letters were sent out to past patients, several more women came forward raising concerns about treatment they’d received.

His victims included a 32-year-old disabled lady and a 42-year-old with whom he exchanged flirtatious and explicit text messages.

Two final charges were brought on 4 July in relation to a 47-year-old QE patient Hamid molested in April and June 2012. In a statement she told detectives she’d been in “turmoil” since the assaults and had delayed reporting because, although knowing it was wrong, remained in “disbelief a doctor could do such a thing”.

Det Insp Ingram, added: “We have made every effort to contact people who may have been assaulted by Dr Hamid but we cannot rule out there may be some who’ve not yet spoken to police. I’d urge anyone who believes they have been assaulted to contact the enquiry team.”

On sentencing Hamid, His Hon Judge Patrick Thomas QC praised West Midlands Police and the Crown Prosecution service, saying they “used a good deal of sense coming to the decision to prosecute”. With regards to the police, he added the investigation was carried out “fully professionally and sensitively.”

Commenting on the sentence, Det Insp Ingram said: “We are satisfied with the term handed to Hamid, which reflects the seriousness of his crimes.

“He is now going to have time to reflect on how, when he was in a position to help and cure many people, he chose to sexually assault ladies when they were at their most vulnerable.”

Police are appealing for information after an aggravated burglary at a house in Coppull.

At about 8.20pm last night (Tuesday, November 18th) two men broke into a house on Coppull Moor Lane, Coppull.

One of the intruders threatened the elderly home owners, a man and woman in their 90s, and their son, aged 63, with a crowbar and screwdriver and the other searched the house stealing a quantity of cash and pension books.

Thankfully the victims were not hurt but were left extremely shaken by the ordeal.

The offenders are described as a man, about 6ft tall, slim build dressed in all dark clothing. The second man was about 5ft 9ins, stocky build, wearing a black cap and dark/black clothing.

Det Sgt Ian Derbyshire, of South CID, said: “This was an extremely nasty crime which has left the vulnerable victims very shaken up, although thankfully unhurt.

“I would appeal for anyone with information to get in touch with us.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log number 1264 of Tuesday, November 18th.