Latest news with #WestMidlandsPolice
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Sutton Coldfield man jailed over luxury car theft conspiracy
A man has been jailed for his role in a conspiracy which saw more than £650,000 worth of luxury cars stolen. Hugh Bradley, also known as Hughie Bradley or Hughie Das, bought relay kits from contacts in Poland that allowed him to start cars without their keys, West Midlands Police said. The cars would then be taken to different sites in Essex with the intention of sending them on to countries in Africa. Bradley, 31, from Sutton Coldfield, was jailed for eight years and nine months after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle and conspiracy to handle stolen goods. He had been linked to a number of relay thefts in the West Midlands and had also helped to steal cars from across the country, police of Langley Heath Drive, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 30 May, after being arrested and charged last November. Bradley was spotted on CCTV in Essex and caught when he used his own car, a VW Golf, to drive in convoy with some of the stolen cars, the West Midlands force said Bradley had filmed himself carrying out reconnaissance of houses where luxury SUVs were parked, while messages showed he had paid £25,000 for one of the relay kits he bought from used Snapchat to contact criminal associates and arrange onward sales of the cars, the force stolen cars were valued at £654,664, after an investigation was carried out with Essex Police and Hertfordshire was given a sentence of six years and nine months for one charge of conspiracy to handle stolen was also sentenced to six years in total for two charges of conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle, four years of which will be served concurrently. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Arrest after drugs factory uncovered in Black Country
POLICE have arrested a man after uncovering a drugs factory with around 200 cannabis plants inside. West Midlands Police officers raided an address in Moors Hill Lane in Tipton in the early hours of Saturday morning (May 31). Police confirmed that a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis. In a statement, a spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: "We've discovered around 200 cannabis plants and made an arrest in Tipton this morning (31 May). "We acted on information and found the drugs factory at an address in Moors Mill Lane at just after 1.40am. "A 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and is currently in custody for questioning. They added: "Drugs not only ruin lives, but fuel further crime, and we'll continue to take action to shut down such illegal production".
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man who kept submachine gun in toolbox in his bedroom facing jail
A MAN who kept a deadly submachine gun in a toolbox in his bedroom along with 176 rounds of ammunition is facing jail. Anthony Patterson, 44, was arrested after a Thompson submachine gun and live ammo was found by officers who raided the address in April last year. Police stormed the property in Handsworth, Birmingham, and found the firearm in an upstairs bedroom and the ammunition stashed inside bin liners. West Midlands Police said the weapon and bullets were examined by experts, who confirmed they were live and viable, with the capability of causing 'tremendous loss of life'. Having not been inside the address at the time, Patterson handed himself in and was arrested on suspicion of possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of ammunition without certificate. Anthony Patterson (Image: West Midlands Police / SWNS) In police interview, Patterson answered no comment to all questions and was charged a short time later. Patterson appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on May 20 where he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition. He was was remanded in custody to appear at the same court where he will be sentenced in June. PC Richardson, from the force's Major Crime Proactive team, said: "This was a significant recovery of a lethal automatic weapon and a significant quantity of ammunition which could have caused tremendous loss of life. "We are committed to taking all weapons, including firearms, off the streets and will continue to take proactive action to arrest and prosecute the people who carry them. "If you suspect someone you know might be storing a firearm, let us know either directly to us, or anonymously via Crimestoppers."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Chester Road closed as emergency services deal with 'incident'
A busy commuting route in Streetly is closed following reports of an incident. West Midlands Police has shut both carriageways of Chester Road to traffic on Friday evening. There is no information on the nature of the incident but locals have posted on Facebook that police and ambulances were seen close to the Shell Petrol Garage and Streetly Academy. READ MORE : 'Shocking' sentence of special needs teaching assistant who abused pupils to be reviewed READ MORE: £200 payments announced for state pensioners who've lost Winter Fuel Allowance READ MORE: People born after this date won't get their state pension until they are 67 amid rule change A car which had said to have collided with a hedge and sign was also spotted. The roadway is closed from Queslett Road East to Kimsan Croft. Get the latest BirminghamLive news direct to your inbox There is no indication of when it might reopen. Traffic provider Inrix said: "A452 Chester Road in both directions closed due to emergency services incident from A4041 Queslett Road East to Kimsan Croft. "Diversion - bus routes 77 and 77A," it added. National Express West Midlands posted on X that the number 77 is on diversion. They said: "Due to an emergency service lead incident at Chester Road #Sutton 77 are on diversion in both directions via: Queslett Road East, Aldridge Road, Hundred Acre Road and Bridle Lane. "We apologise for any disruption to your journey."
ITV News
4 days ago
- ITV News
Three men jailed for murder in 'brutal' drive-by shooting in Walsall
Three men will spend at least 29 years in jail after a 20-year-old man was shot dead in a revenge killing. Connor Brookes and a friend were targeted in a drive-by shooting while sat in a parked van in Walsall in last July. A stolen black Ford Focus pulled up beside them and six seconds later, a gunman at the back fired a shotgun once at them. Mr Brookes, who was in the driver's seat was killed. His friend in the passenger seat was hit in the left shoulder. Jake Sanbrook, 22, Byron Sellick, 20, and Julian Falconer, 20, have all been senteced to life, with a minimum of 29 years. The trio were said by police to have carried out the attack after their friend Bailey Atkinson was stabbed to death in Walsall in 2023. Mr Brookes' brother was among those convicted of their friend's murder. Police said 15 minutes before Mr Brookes' murder on Well Lane, they had fired towards another car less than two miles away. Officer believe this was also an attempted revenge attack. After the attack, the Focus, driven by Sanbrook, sped off at nearly 50mph. The murder weapon was dumped in a bin bag in Wyrley Lane, Staffordshire. Connor's family said in April, when the men were found guilty: "Connor was an incredibly kind and caring person, someone who was always there for us. "His loss at such a young age is devastating, for all of us who loved him. This has been a heart-breaking journey for our family, and it's a loss we will carry with us forever. This violence has to end before more lives are ruined.' Det Insp Michelle Cordell, from West Midlands Police, said: "Connor's murder has had a devastating impact on all who knew and loved him, especially his family. His friend survived the attack, but I have no doubt that the trauma he experienced that day will live with him for the rest of his life. 'The brutal and cold-hearted actions of this group in broad daylight were intentional, cruel, cowardly and unjustified. We may never know who fired the gun, but the jury's verdicts show that they were acting with a common purpose that day. "Nothing can bring Connor back, but I hope that today's verdicts provide some comfort to both families as they try to heal and rebuild their lives."
