A group of football fans who claim they were "falsely imprisoned" before a match last year are to sue West Midlands Police.

Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands

It’s been one of the worst-kept secrets for weeks. 

Speculation has been rife that Andy Street, boss of John Lewis and chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership is about to enter politics as the Conservative candidate for “Metro Mayor” of the West Midlands. 

So it can surely be no mere coincidence that the Conservatives’ press statement that their (so far unnamed) candidate will be paraded before the cameras at the opening of their party conference in Birmingham on Sunday 2 October should arrive in our inboxes just as the LEP presses the send button on its own news release that Andy Street is to stand down as its chairman. “Draw your own conclusions” as they say.

This comes hard on the heels of the Liberal Democrats’ announcement on Wednesday that the well-known local businesswoman Beverley Nielsen will be their candidate for mayor.   

The two Walsall brothers jailed for terrorism funding offences had been raising money for Musadikur Rohaman, a fighter in the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa.

Musadikur had left for there in December 2014 with his wife Zohura Siddeka.

Sentencing them Judge Mark Lucraft QC said: "Each of you knew where Musadikur was, what he was doing and the reasons why he needed finance. 

"It would be obvious to each of you Musadikur and Zohura Siddeka were in Syria and they were there in support of the so-called Islamic State."

Two dry cleaners who sold their brother's BMW, watch and a wedding outfit to raise cash for him while he was fighting for Islamic State have been jailed. 

Mohammed Hussain, 26, and 33-year-old Mohamed Rohaman from Walsall collected £10,000 to fund his trip.  

Image source, bbc

They were both convicted of terrorism funding offences. Hussain has been jailed for four years and Rohaman two years and nine months. 

Another man aged 27, Mohammed Atiqur Khan, a family friend, has been jailed for 18 months.

Corinne Wheatley
BBC WM, Journalist

A man's been arrested after a motorcyclist died in a crash in Selly Oak yesterday.

The collision involved the 27-year-old motorcyclist who died, a car and double decker bus happened on Pershore Road close to Pebble Mill Road. 

The driver of the car was arrested at his home has been released on bail pending further enquiries. 

Daniel Sandford
Home Affairs Correspondent

All four men appeared in the dock wearing police issue sweatshirts, some grey, some navy blue.

Naweed Ali, Khobaib Hussain, Mohibur Rahman and Tahir Aziz confirmed their names and addresses in Birmingham and Stoke on Trent.

Charged with preparing terrorist acts they will now remain in prison until they appear at the Old Bailey in 10 days.

The BBC understands the allegation is that they were chatting on social media about wanting to do something and were in possession of potential weapons and extremist material.

Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WM Sport

Aston Villa fan Carter Carrington’s dream will come true this Sunday when he walks out at Villa Park with his favourite player Jack Grealish.

The Solihull-born midfielder and club chairman Dr Tony Xia have arranged for the four-year-old to be a mascot for their home game against Nottingham Forest after spotting this picture of Carter on social media.

Image source, Carrington family

The boy, from Bognor Regis, had his leg amputated when he was just 11 months old due to a rare illness and is such a big Villa fan, his prosthetic leg even has the club’s badge on it.

Of the other defendants sentenced today, former Wolves season-ticket holder Ryan Meer, 19, of Watling Street, Gailey, Staffordshire, admitted affray and was given a suspended eight-month sentence. 

He was not involved in the attack and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work. 

Image source, Getty Images

Trainee estate agent Robert Beech, of Springhill Road, Wednesfield, admitted threatening behaviour and was handed a two-month suspended sentence. 

Beech, 19, was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community work and given a three-year football banning order.

Relive live text of the final of the One-Day Cup from Lord's as Warwickshire beat Surrey by eight wickets.

Police have called the attack on Nic Cruwys an "appalling, unprovoked assault that has left lasting damage."

Three teenagers have been jailed for their roles in the attack with two others given non-custodial sentences for public order offences.

Mr Cruwys' family said in a statement, external: "Although Nic will never fully recover, we are now hoping to try and move on with our lives and try and put the horrific situation behind us. 

"We are delighted that the people involved have been charged and hope that the verdict reflects the injuries Nic suffered and our family's pain and suffering caused by their mindless actions."

Image source, West Midlands Police

Pictured left to right, top to bottom are:

• Joseph Lister, 19, of Palmer Close, Wednesfield, given 30 months after admitting wounding
• Connor Pearson, 16, of Ettingshall Close, Wolverhampton, was given a one-year detention and training order after admitting wounding
• Ryan Meer, 19, of Watling Street, Gailey, Staffordshire, was given a suspended eight-month sentence after admitting affray
• Robert Beech, 19, of Springhill Road, Wednesfield, was given a two-month suspended sentence after admitting threatening behaviour
• Joe Wood, 15, of Woodstock Road, Wolverhampton was given 56 months after admtting wounding with intent
•  Daniel Lloyd, aged 19 from Longfellow Road, Sedgley, will be sentenced at a later date after admitting grievous bodily harm.

Three teenagers, one aged 13, who attacked a rival football fan leaving him with a life-changing brain injury are given custodial sentences.

Danny Shaw
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent

The chief constable of West Midlands Police Dave Thompson says the force would consider allowing female officers to wear the burka. 

He says they have not had any approaches from potential recruits asking to wear it but says they "don't have any barriers relating to the burka".

It follows reports by the Express and Star newspaper about the possibility of female police officers in the West Midlands being able to wear the burka, external

The chief constable added, external: "We would need to consider our own rules and cultural sensitivity. We don't have any barriers relating to the burka."

Image source, Thinkstock

Passengers booked on American Airlines flights from Birmingham after 6 January 2017 will be contacted by the carrier.

Passengers can either book alternative flights or get a refund.

In a statement the airport also point out that United Airlines will continue to run a daily non-stop service to New York's Newark airport, and regular connections to North America "are also available with several other carriers."

Image source, PA/AP

Prosecutor John Hallissey told Wolverhampton Crown Court that young children had witnessed the attack on Nic Cruwys on March 7 2015. 

The court heard none of those convicted of wounding had attended the Wolves v Watford match, instead gathering at a pub. 

Mr Hallissey told the court: "Mr Cruwys had been watching the match and made his way towards the railway station in order to go home, possibly via a pub. 

"He didn't get that far because he was intercepted by this group. He appears simply to have been picked out of the crowd and attacked. 

"What happened to him happened in a matter of a few seconds but the consequences will last for a life-time. From a very short incident he found himself grateful to be alive."

As he passed sentence, Judge Ward said of the victim Nic Cruwys: "He was injured so severely that he spent the next three weeks in a medically-induced coma and the next three months in hospital."

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that he was attacked in the city as he made his way from Molineux Stadium to the railway station following a match in March last year. 

Image source, PA

The 44-year-old was knocked out as he fell to the ground following a punch, and was then stamped on and kicked three times despite being unconscious. 

Addressing the five defendants in the dock and a sixth defendant who was present in court but will be sentenced at a later date, the judge added: "Four of you in this room are responsible for all of that."

Wolverhampton Wanderers says it has banned the teenagers who were involved in a unprovoked attack on a Watford fan last year from its ground.

Three teenagers have been jailed and another two given non-custodial sentences after Nic Cruwys was left in a coma for three weeks in March last year.

The club says: "Wolves are pleased that those involved have been brought to justice, and would like to thank those people that came forward with their witness accounts which helped to build up a picture of events."

The judge heard Watford fan Nic Cruwys, who was not wearing club colours, was attacked while with a group of friends. 

Today two other defendants were given non-custodial sentences for public order offences - a sixth defendant will be sentenced at a later date. 

Image source, PA

Passing sentence, Judge Ward said of the victim: "He suffered extensive skull fractures and a traumatic brain injury. He was so badly injured that doctors told his family they didn't think he would survive." 

Wolverhampton Wanderers confirmed today that all six individuals have been banned from Molineux for life., external

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

Three teenagers who launched a "devastating" unprovoked attack on a rival fan, leaving him with a life-changing brain injury, have been given custodial sentences. 

The attack left Watford fan Nic Cruwys in a coma following a match at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 7 March 2015. 

- Joe Wood, 15, of Woodstock Road, Wolverhampton, was ordered to be detained for 56 months after admitting wounding with intent.

- Joseph Lister, 19, of Palmer Close, Wednesfield, was given a 30-month sentence after admitted wounding. 

- Connor Pearson, 16, of Woodstock Road, Wolverhampton, was given a one-year detention and training order after also admitted wounding

The supervising location manager working on the sequel to the movie Kingsman says Birmingham should be the UK's number one movie location outside London.

Stephen Spielberg is currently in the city directing his latest blockbuster Ready Player One.

Earlier this year the cast and crew of The Golden Circle, the follow-up to Kingsman, were seen in the heart of Birmingham filming.

Read more about Spielberg in Brum and why the city is attracting filmmakers.

US carrier American Airlines is to stop its direct flights to New York.

The airline has run daily flights to New York's JFK airport since May 2015.

The airport has said there is a strong demand for service and it was "optimistic" another carrier will fill the gap shortly.

The service will finish on 6 January 2017.