Pulse

Category: Crime

  • Pulse West Midlands headlines: 12 February 2026

    Pulse West Midlands headlines: 12 February 2026

    Four West Midlands Police updates published on 11 February 2026: an investigation into disorder in Bearwood, a teenager charged after a machete attack in Shirley, five arrests after a Kingstanding raid, and an ongoing appeal after a high-value precious metal robbery in Dudley.

    Bearwood disorder investigation

    Police are investigating reports of disorder on Bearwood Road in Bearwood, reported shortly before 6pm on 11 February. Officers put a cordon in place during the response.

    Police report two men later went to hospital and a third was taken to hospital by ambulance, with injuries being assessed at the time of the update.

    Three men were arrested on suspicion of assault. Anyone with information or footage is asked to quote log 4666 of 11 February.

    Shirley machete attack – 16-year-old charged (Birmingham)

    A 16-year-old boy has been charged in connection with a machete attack outside a shop on Stratford Road, Shirley, at around 9pm on 7 February.

    Police report three boys were attacked. Two boys aged 15 and 14 were taken to hospital with injuries believed to have been caused by a machete. Police said one boy had life-changing injuries and remained in hospital at the time of the update, while the second boy was back home. Another boy aged 15 was assaulted but did not go to hospital.

    The 16-year-old is charged with two counts of attempted murder, plus assault and possession of a bladed article. He cannot be named for legal reasons. Police said he was remanded in custody and was set to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court on 11 February.

    Police said three other boys arrested in connection with the incident were bailed pending further enquiries. Anyone with information, including dashcam or mobile phone footage, is asked to quote crime number 20/140175/26.

    Kingstanding raid – drugs and ammunition seized (Birmingham)

    Police say officers executed a warrant at an address on Tresham Road, Kingstanding, on 11 February, and seized suspected Class A drugs and ammunition.

    Police report two bullets were recovered and were due to be forensically examined. Five people were arrested: a 31-year-old man on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs and firearms offences, and four others on suspicion of firearms offences, including boys aged 14 and 16 and men aged 19 and 20. Police said they were in custody for questioning at the time of the update.

    Dudley precious metal robbery – appeal continues

    Police are continuing to appeal for information after a high-value precious metal robbery at a unit on Birmingham New Road, Dudley, at 4.20pm on 8 February.

    Police report three men aged 75, 79 and 84 were injured and were not seriously hurt. A large quantity of collectible gold and silver coins was stolen, mainly boxed Royal Mint coins in presentation boxes with proof of authenticity.

    Police are also seeking anyone who saw a grey or silver Mitsubishi Outlander before or after the incident time and date. Anyone who can help is asked to quote crime reference 20/141018/26.

    How to pass on information

    West Midlands Police asks the public to contact them via 101 or the Live Chat option on their website, quoting the relevant log or crime reference number. For the Shirley and Dudley cases, the force also references Crimestoppers for anonymous reports.

  • Birmingham mosque worker jailed after child sexual abuse campaign

    Birmingham mosque worker jailed after child sexual abuse campaign

    West Midlands Police say a former agency worker at a Birmingham mosque has been jailed for 16 years for rape and sexual abuse offences against children, with victims as young as nine.

    A man has been jailed for 16 years after being convicted of rape and sexual abuse offences against children in Birmingham.

    West Midlands Police describe the offending as a “campaign” of abuse and confirm the victims included children as young as nine.

    The force’s court outcome update was published on 10 February 2026.

    What is confirmed

    Police confirm the offender was a former agency worker at a mosque in Birmingham.

    The force does not name the mosque in its public update. Pulse Local will not add identifying details that are not clearly and lawfully published, particularly in cases involving child victims.

    The sentence length and the fact of conviction are clear. This is not an allegation. It is a court outcome.

    Why this case matters beyond one offender

    Cases like this do lasting damage because they hit trust as well as victims.

    Places used by families and children rely on safeguarding rules working in practice, not just sitting in a policy folder. Agency and temporary work arrangements can add risk if oversight is weak, although this case turns on criminal acts by an individual, not a press-release debate about systems.

    What happens next

    The offender begins a long prison sentence. Police and safeguarding agencies typically continue work behind the scenes after sentencing, including victim support and any review of safeguarding practice where relevant.

    If you are worried about a child

    If you think a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

    If you want to report a concern, you can contact West Midlands Police on 101, your local council safeguarding team, or the NSPCC helpline. If you prefer anonymity for reporting crime, Crimestoppers can take reports without your name.

  • Pulse West Midlands headlines: 11 February 2026

    Pulse West Midlands headlines: 11 February 2026

    Leo Ross murder sentence confirmed, Birmingham bin strike mandate extended into September, and West Midlands Police reports a 16-year jail term in a child safeguarding case plus Guardian Taskforce arrests and seizures across the force area.

    Teenager sentenced for murder of schoolboy Leo Ross in Hall Green

    Credit: West Midlands Police

    West Midlands Police says a 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to life, with a minimum term of 13 years in custody, for murdering 12-year-old Leo Ross.

    Police say Leo was attacked in Hall Green on 21 January 2025 as he walked home from school, near Trittiford Mill Park.

    Police say there is no indication the two knew each other and there is no known motive. The youth defendant cannot be named for legal reasons.

    The Crown Prosecution Service says the boy pleaded guilty to murder at Birmingham Crown Court on 29 January 2026.

    The CPS also says he admitted assaults on three elderly women in separate incidents near the same area between 19 and 21 January 2025.

    Sentencing took place at Birmingham Crown Court on 10 February 2026.

    Birmingham bin workers vote to extend strike mandate into September

    Birmingham’s long-running bin strike could run into September 2026 after a reballot.

    ITV News reports Unite says its members voted to extend industrial action for another six months, taking the mandate past the May local elections and into September.

    ITV reports the dispute began after the council announced the scrapping of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer role and changes to drivers’ and loaders’ conditions.

    ITV reports Unite claims the changes mean some workers face pay cuts of up to £8,000, describing it as fire-and-rehire.

    Birmingham City Council has said it has made offers and wants the dispute to end. ITV reports the council has also said Unite’s demands would risk another equal pay bill running into hundreds of millions of pounds.

    ITV also reports the council confirmed fortnightly bin collections are set to begin in June 2026, even if industrial action continues.

    Birmingham mosque worker jailed in child safeguarding case

    Credit: West Midlands Police

    West Midlands Police says a former agency IT support worker at a Birmingham mosque has been jailed for 16 years for a campaign of rape and sexual abuse against boys as young as nine.

    Police say five boys were abused, with the oldest aged 14. Police say the mosque cannot be named for legal reasons.

    Police say the offender, Said Daauud, stopped working at the mosque in February 2022 but continued to attend and was well known to the congregation.

    Police say their investigation began in May 2022 after mothers raised concerns about grooming behaviour.

    Police say the investigation led to charges including one rape, nine sexual assaults, and four offences of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

    Guardian Taskforce reports arrests and weapons seizures across force area

    West Midlands Police says Guardian Taskforce teams have made arrests and seized knives, drugs and suspected criminal cash across multiple locations.

    Police say a man stopped in Wolverhampton city centre on 6 February was arrested after officers seized two wraps of Class A drugs and a knife.

    Police say Dean Everall, from Bridgnorth, has been charged with possession of a bladed article and possession of Class A drugs, and is due to appear at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on 5 March.

    In Chelmsley Wood, police say officers found a machete, cash and multiple wraps of Class A drugs during a stop in Roebuck Close on 7 February, and a 19-year-old man was arrested and later bailed pending further enquiries.

    Police say a 26-year-old man was given a community resolution after a stop in Balsall Heath on Edward Road where cannabis was seized.

    In Shard End, police say a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of a bladed article after a “zombie knife” was found nearby, and he was later bailed pending enquiries.

    Police also say a 22-year-old man was charged in Lye with possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply after officers found cannabis, cash and mobile phones believed to be linked to drug dealing.

  • Leo Ross murder: 15-year-old given life sentence with 13-year minimum

    Leo Ross murder: 15-year-old given life sentence with 13-year minimum

    A 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 13 years for murdering 12-year-old Leo Ross, who was attacked while walking home from school in Hall Green.

    A 15-year-old boy has been jailed for the murder of 12-year-old Leo Ross, who was attacked while walking home from school in Hall Green.

    West Midlands Police confirmed the teenager was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 10 February 2026. The court imposed life detention with a minimum term of 13 years before he can be considered for release.

    Because the offender is a child, he cannot be identified.

    What the court outcome confirms

    Leo was killed on 21 January 2025, after he was attacked near Scribers Lane and Trittiford Mill Park, in Hall Green.

    The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the boy admitted murdering Leo at a hearing on 29 January 2026, ahead of sentencing. The police investigation then led to the life sentence being passed on 10 February.

    The CPS also confirmed the teenager was sentenced for other offences linked to the same day, including serious assaults on two elderly women, plus assault and knife possession offences.

    How police linked the boy to the killing

    Police have described a fast-moving investigation, with officers and detectives working to identify and arrest the attacker.

    The force has also set out that the boy tried to mislead officers at first, before later admitting the killing. That detail is important because it explains why the case moved from early uncertainty to a guilty plea.

    Why this case has hit so hard locally

    This was not a distant, abstract crime story. It was a child walking home from school in a Birmingham neighbourhood. That is why it still lands like a punch a year on.

    The wider picture is messy too. Knife-enabled crime is not just a London headline. Official figures published by the Office for National Statistics show the West Midlands Police force area recorded 4,116 knife-enabled offences in the year ending September 2025, down 18% on the year before. “Down” is welcome. “Four thousand” is still the bit that sticks in your throat.

    Nationally, ONS reporting for the same period puts knife or sharp instrument offences in England and Wales at 50,430, down 9%. Again: the direction is good. The volume is the problem.

    What happens next

    A life sentence does not mean automatic release at the minimum term. It means the offender must serve at least that minimum, and then convince the Parole Board it is safe to be released.

    For Leo’s family, the legal process has reached an ending. The loss does not.

  • Police appeal after disturbance in Wolverhampton city centre

    Police appeal after disturbance in Wolverhampton city centre

    West Midlands Police are appealing for information after a man was seriously injured during a disturbance in Wolverhampton city centre.

    Police have appealed for witnesses after a reported disturbance in Wolverhampton city centre left a man seriously injured.

    West Midlands Police said the incident happened at around 00:30 on Saturday 7 February on Ward Street.

    What police say happened

    Police said a group assaulted a man in his 40s.

    The force said the attack began when the victim was struck with a bottle, and that he was then punched and kicked.

    Police said the victim suffered serious injuries and is now in a stable condition.

    Appeal for information

    West Midlands Police said officers want to identify and speak to two men pictured as part of their enquiries.

    Anyone with information is asked to contact police quoting log 310 of 07/02/2026.

    Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers.

  • Police appeal after reported sexual assault in Perry Barr

    Police appeal after reported sexual assault in Perry Barr

    West Midlands Police have issued an appeal after a woman reported being sexually assaulted at a shopping park in Perry Barr.

    West Midlands Police have appealed for information after a reported sexual assault in Perry Barr.

    Police said a woman reported being sexually assaulted at around 3pm on Saturday 20 December at One Stop in Perry Barr.

    The force said it wants to speak to the man pictured as part of its enquiries.

    What police are asking for

    West Midlands Police said it is carrying out enquiries and remains in contact with the woman who reported the incident.

    Anyone who can identify the man pictured, or who has information that could help officers, is asked to contact police.

    How to contact police

    West Midlands Police said people can call 101 quoting crime reference 20/482030/25.

    People can also pass information anonymously via Crimestoppers.

  • Man charged after shop worker stabbed in Shard End

    Man charged after shop worker stabbed in Shard End

    West Midlands Police say a man has been charged after a shop worker was stabbed during a reported robbery in Shard End.

    A man has been charged after a shop worker was stabbed during a reported robbery in Shard End, according to West Midlands Police.

    Police said the stabbing happened at a store on Heathland Avenue on Thursday 5 February.

    The victim, a man, was taken to hospital for treatment, police said.

    Charge and court stage

    West Midlands Police said Reece Allen, 31, from Birmingham, has been charged.

    The force said the charges include robbery, theft from a shop, wounding, possession of a bladed article, and common assault of an emergency worker.

    Police said he has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.

  • Pulse West Midlands headlines: 10 February 2026

    Pulse West Midlands headlines: 10 February 2026

    Birmingham’s cabinet considers key budget papers, police issue two public appeals, and rail passengers are warned of late-night disruption between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton

    Birmingham cabinet considers draft budget papers for 2026/27 to 2028/29

    Birmingham City Council’s cabinet is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 10 February 2026 at 10:00.

    Key items on the agenda include:

    • 2026/27 to 2028/29 Budget Setting for the General Fund Revenue Account
    • 2026/27 to 2028/29 Capital Programme Medium-Term Financial Plan
    • 2026/27 Treasury Management Strategy and Policy

    Other items listed for the same meeting include performance and savings monitoring, procurement strategies, a housing repairs contract extension, an item related to a Perry Barr residential scheme, a City of Sanctuary strategy, Kings Heath and Moseley Places for People, and appointments to outside bodies.

    Police appeal after reported sexual assault in Perry Barr

    West Midlands Police has published an appeal after a woman reported being sexually assaulted at a shopping park in Birmingham.

    Police say it happened at around 3pm on Saturday 20 December at One Stop in Perry Barr.

    Officers say they want to identify a man pictured as part of their enquiries. Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting crime reference 20/482030/25.

    Wolverhampton disturbance appeal: police seek witnesses

    West Midlands Police has issued an appeal linked to an incident on Bevan Avenue, Wolverhampton.

    Police say they were called on 8 February after a report of a disturbance outside an address. Officers say they are working to understand what happened and want to speak to anyone who was in the area between 9pm and 10pm.

    Police also say they want to speak to two people pictured as part of their enquiries, and that they are not being considered as suspects.

    Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting log 4371 of 8 Feb.

    Rail disruption warning for late services via Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton

    National Rail has published disruption information for late night Avanti West Coast services between London Euston and Wolverhampton, due to engineering work.

    The notice says the work runs from Monday 16 February 2026 to Thursday 19 February 2026, and that engineering work is taking place between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton, closing some lines.

    National Rail says the 22:30, 23:00 and 23:30 Euston to Wolverhampton services will be diverted after Birmingham New Street via Aston and Bescot Stadium, extending journey times and arriving later into Wolverhampton.