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ATTEMPTED ABDUCTION OF GIRL Two men have attempted to abduct a 10-year-old girl as she played with her sister and a friend in a Staffordshire village, police said. The girl was cycling in Coven, near Brewood, when a car with rear blacked out windows drew up. The passenger jumped out and tried to entice her in. Police said she refused and all three girls managed to pedal away. DEATH REFERRED TO AUTHORITY The Police Complaints Authority is to probe a Staffordshire teenager's death in a car crash after it emerged officers had signalled for him to stop. David O'Connell, 19, suffered fatal injuries after his Peugeot 106 was in collision with a Ford Transit van in Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent. A spokesman said: "Staffordshire Police have voluntarily referred this matter." EXPERTS MEET TO DISCUSS GUNS Law experts, community groups and Government officials are meeting in Birmingham for a forum on gun crime. The Home Office is holding the event to look at how Britain's burgeoning weapons culture can be overcome. The debate was brought into focus in Birmingham when Letisha Shakespeare, 17, and Charlene Ellis, 18, were shot dead while celebrating New Year 2003. SCHOOL TO AXE HALF-A-DAY Birmingham's chief education officer has defended a primary school's move to be the first in the city to axe half-a-day a week from its curriculum. Pupils at Kings Heath Primary will be given Wednesday afternoons off, with the option of taking part in clubs. Education chief Tony Howell said: "The number of hours in which the curriculum will be delivered will be the same." HOUSE PRICES DROP IN REGION House prices in the West Midlands have fallen dramatically, according to property website Rightmove. Prices fell by a steep 8.3% last month, although the property tracking service said it may be due to the size of the sample used. Nationally, the housing market has seen average prices rising by more than £2,000 a week. BURGLARY RATES DROP BY 44% The number of burglaries in Burton-on-Trent dropped by 44% last month, figures show. Staffordshire Police believe a pre-Christmas crime prevention drive contributed to the decrease. There were 10 break-ins in the town compared to 18 in December 2002. In the Uxbridge area there were two burglaries compared with seven last year. CALL FOR DISABILITY RECOGNITION A Birmingham Euro MP has joined colleagues in drawing up a declaration calling for "deafblindness" to be recognised as a disability. Lynne Jones wants EU member states to make a distinction between people without both sight and hearing loss and those who suffer from one or the other. "Deafblindness must be recognised as a distinct condition," Ms Lynne said. BUS USERS GET CASH BOOST Redditch bus users have received a much-needed boost after Worcestershire County Council secured nearly £1m to improve public and community transport. The bid for £988,000 from the Government was supported by the Redditch Bus Quality Partnership. The cash will support a range of schemes, including low-floor buses and the introduction of a taxi bus. FILM TO BE SHOWN WORLDWIDE An animated film about sweet peas which was made by a lecturer at Wolverhampton University is to be shown worldwide. Samantha Moore's documentary follows the motivation of competitors as they prepare to exhibit at the annual Eckford Sweet Pea Society of Wem Show. Success With Sweet Peas will now be shown at festivals in Australia, Japan, Turkey and France this year. PARTY RECRUITS TOP PR MAN The Birmingham-based UK Independence Party has recruited top PR adviser Max Clifford to boost its image in the forthcoming European elections. Clifford, who has represented scores of public figures, is to devise a 12-week national billboard campaign for the anti-European party. The UKIP is aiming to win 10 seats out of 78 being contested at the vote. WOMAN HELD OVER BOMB 'JOKE' A Shropshire woman has been arrested in the US after she joked with an airport policeman that she was carrying a bomb. Samantha Marson, 21, of Bridgnorth, was asked what was in her rucksack as she waited to board a British Airways flight from Miami back to Britain. The student's father Jim, 75, said: "We are beside ourselves with worry. She phoned and was hysterical." SUSPECTS' FAMILIES LAUNCH GROUP The families of four West Midlands terror suspects held by the US have helped launch a new human rights body. The Guantanamo Human Rights Commission, started by Corin and Vanessa Redgrave, says the detentions are illegal. Moazzam Begg, 36, from Birmingham, and Shafiq Rasool, 24, Asif Iqbal, 20, and 23-year-old Rhuhel Ahmed, all from Tipton, are held at Camp Delta, Cuba. SUSPECT'S FATHER SPEAKS OUT The father of a Birmingham terror suspect has condemned the US at the launch of the new campaign group and called for a fair trial for his son. Moazzam Begg, 36, from Sparkhill, is being held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. His father, Azmat Begg, said: "All I want is justice for my son. I have not received a letter from him for over six months. I am very worried." POLICE SUSPENDED AMID PROBE Six officers from West Midlands Police have been suspended amid an inquiry into the death of a man who collapsed after being struck by a police car. Father-of-three Michael Lloyd Powell, 38, died in custody at Handsworth police station following the collision. The Police Complaints Authority confirmed the six have been suspended, but stressed the inquiry continues. COUNCIL WILL NOT FIGHT RUNWAY Council chiefs have decided not to challenge the Government over its proposals for a second runway at Birmingham International Airport. Solihull Council said it will not be seeking a judicial review of the plans despite opposition from residents. Ian Hillas, deputy council leader, said it would be "irresponsible" to waste money on an appeal that would fail. BOOST AS CANCER RATE FALLS Health workers in Shropshire and Staffordshire have welcomed news that the cancer death rate is falling across the two counties. New figures from the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) confirm the national reduction is reflected locally. Some 20 new consultants are working in cancer services across the counties, a health authority spokesman added. REVIEW CRITICISES AGENCIES Police and social services in the West Midlands have been criticised for failing to protect two young brothers stabbed to death by their father. Steven Wilson, formerly of Great Barr, brutally murdered his sons Brett, seven, and Brad, eight, in 2002. A child protection team review criticised the poor communication between several agencies involved. BUSINESS LEADERS FEAR PROPOSALS Government plans to slash carbon dioxide emissions will further reduce UK manufacturers' competitive edge, Birmingham business leaders warn. The proposals have been outlined by Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett. A Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry spokeswoman said manufacturing job in the West Midlands "will be under threat as a result of this measure". TOLL ROAD GRINDS TO HALT The operators of the M6 Toll have apologised to motorists after it ground to a halt due to roadworks. Vehicles on the £900m toll motorway were gridlocked as queues stretched back for two miles on the southbound carriageway near Sutton Coldfield. By contrast traffic on the congested M6 in Birmingham - which the toll road was designed to relieve - flowed freely. DEATH CRASH VICTIM IS NAMED Police have named a man who died when his vehicle hit a tree in Warwickshire. Samuel Goodman, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on the A435 between Arrow and his home village of Wixford on Saturday. Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the accident to contact officers at Greys Mallory road policing unit on 01926 415465. TEACHER'S WIDOW GIVES STATEMENT The widow of a Birmingham teacher who was killed by a hit-and-run driver outside his school is to speak publicly about his death for the first time. Jane Evans's husband, David, 55, was killed in front of pupils in Smethwick when he was struck by a black five-door car which failed to stop. Mrs Evans will join Inspector Ron Winch at Birmingham police headquarters. BOMB 'JOKE' WOMAN APOLOGISES A Shropshire student who faces jail for joking she was taking bombs onto a BA flight from Miami has apologised for making a "foolish mistake". Samantha Marson, 21, said she "wasn't thinking" when she made remarks which could land her in prison for 15 years. Marson, originally from Bridgnorth, said: "I feel really very sorry for what I did....I wasn't thinking." BRANSON OFFERS TO HELP STUDENT Virgin chairman Sir Richard Branson has offered to help a Shropshire student facing jail after joking that she was taking a bomb on to a plane in America. Samantha Marson, 21, from Bridgnorth, was freed on bail by US authorities. Her father, Jim Marson, said: "He (Branson) said if I needed any help, financial help or air tickets, he would be very happy to provide it." PIRATE RADIO VERDICT DUE The jury in the trial of a pirate radio station which allegedly caused havoc to the airwaves used by West Midlands Fire Service is due to consider its verdict. Broadcasts by the People's Community Radio Link shut down part of the emergency network, it is claimed. Cecil Morris, 57, of Birmingham, denies charges at Birmingham Crown Court of conspiracy to run a pirate station. ACCIDENTAL VERDICT ON RIDER A rider was crushed to death when her horse somersaulted over a fence at a Gloucestershire equestrian event and landed on top of her, an inquest heard. Samantha Hudson, 33, from near Malvern in Worcestershire, was killed at the event at Moreton-in-Marsh. Coroner Lester Maddrell recorded a verdict of accidental death at Cirencester Magistrates' Court. BUS FUNDING BOOST FOR REGION Nearly £2m has been provided by the Government to fund five rural bus services across the West Midlands. Staffordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire will all benefit from the Rural Bus Challenge. Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael said: "This funding will directly improve quality of life for people in rural areas." COUNCIL OFFICERS SUSPENDED Three senior Stoke-on-Trent City Council officers have been suspended in a probe into a city centre regeneration scheme which overspent by £15m. The three were suspended by the chief executive of the council, which is probing the Cultural Quarter project. Action is likely to be taken against other officials over hospitality they allegedly received from a contractor. MISSING MAN FOUND IN CANAL A 42-year-old Black Country man who went missing after leaving a hospital in December has been found dead. The body of Richard Patrick Jordan, of Tenterfields, Halesowen, was found in the Dudley Canal near Holly Hall Road. Mr Jordan disappeared after leaving Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, on December 28. His death is not being treated as suspicious. BUILDING SITE BLAZE 'ARSON' Arsonists are being blamed for a blaze which completely destroyed three mobile offices at a building site in Alcester, causing more than £100,000 of damage. The fire also caused smoke damage to several properties next to the construction site in Minerva Mews. Police believe the same gang torched two cars parked in Arden Road earlier this month. GROUP TO WIN HOSPITAL CONTRACT A consortium involving Balfour Beatty and water firm AWG is set to win a £521m contract to build Birmingham's first general hospital for 70 years. Hospital trusts have chosen Consort Healthcare as preferred bidder to build a hospital, psychiatric unit, teaching unit and mental health facilities. The facilities will be located in the Sparkbrook and Stirchley suburbs. GARAGE KILLER GETS 10 YEARS A car thief who mowed down an elderly garage owner in a stolen car near Dudley has been jailed for 10 years. Stuart Ferguson, 25, reversed over Henry Raybould, 75, on July 10 last year after stealing the car from the pensioner's garage in Gornal Wood. Ferguson, of Wolverhampton, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter at an earlier hearing at the city's Crown Court. SOCIAL WORKER'S RECORD CLEARED A social worker whose career was ruined after West Midlands Police revealed an unfounded indecency allegation has won a court ruling which clears his record. A High Court judge ruled that the man, identified only as Mr X, had been treated unfairly by police. Mr X, 44, who lost his last job in July 2002, has been unable to obtain another position in the same field. FAMILY EXPERT ATTACKED WIFE A Birmingham university expert on family issues has been ordered to attend counselling after admitting a drunken assault on his wife. Dr Neil de Reybekill pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates' Court to attacking his wife Alyson during a dispute at their Handsworth Wood home. He was ordered to attend a 60-day relationship programme. BOMB JOKE 'MOST STUPID THING' A student from Shropshire who joked about taking bombs on a US plane said she made the remarks after checks took so long she feared her flight would go. Samantha Marson, 21, from Bridgnorth, branded her comments "the most stupid thing in the world ever". She spent four nights in jail before being freed on bail, pending a court appearance on February 6. RE-ARRESTED MAN FOUND HANGED A Birmingham criminal who went on the run for six years has been found hanged in prison just 16 days after his re-arrest near Lichfield. Vincent Palmer absconded from Birmingham Crown Court in 1997 after being convicted of conspiracy to rob. Palmer was discovered by another inmate hanging from a ligature in a shower at Woodhill Prison, near Milton Keynes. SPEED CHARGE CASE ADJOURNED The case against a Dudley teenager accused of driving at 116mph in a 40mph zone has been adjourned in his absence. James Green, 18, is alleged to have driven at almost three times the speed limit in Quarry Bank, Dudley. The defendant, of Netherton, was ordered to appear in court on February 6 after a brief hearing at Halesowen Magistrates' Court. POLICE CHIEF WELCOMES FIGURES The deputy chief constable of West Midlands Police has welcomed new figures showing a reduction in gun crime across the region. Chris Sims said the fall bucked a rising trend nationally and described the regional figures as good news. Mr Sims said: "Firearms offences remain a concern, but the trend is downwards in West Midlands which is a good sign." HUNT FOR TEACHER'S KILLER The hunt is continuing for a hit-and-run driver who mowed down and killed a Birmingham father-of-two outside the school where he worked. Teacher David Evans, 55, was killed in front of pupils in Smethwick when he was hit by the car on a zebra crossing. His wife Jane made an emotional plea to help catch the driver and police have renewed their appeal for information. CRASH POLICE OFFICERS HURT Two Rugby police officers whose car overturned as they answered an emergency call are recovering well. The men, aged 21 and 28, were taken to the Coventry and Warwick Hospital following the crash in Hillmorton Road. Their marked Nissan Primera struck a tree and a road sign as they responded to a report of a burglary. Police are appealing for any witnesses. STATUE RETURNS WITH FIG LEAF An historic Hercules statue deprived of his fig leaf by vandals is to go back on display in Shrewsbury after work to ensure his modesty is protected. A council spokesman confirmed the 17th century lead likeness of the Greek god would soon be returned to Quarry Park after the sensitive repairs. He said: "A new fig leaf has been modelled based on archival research."
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