Fire service guidance over sky lanterns as Bonfire Night loomspublished at 14:47 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
The fire services has issued guidance about the use of sky lanterns ahead of 5 November.
Summary
Policeman who abused boys a 'sex predator all his life'
Key suspect named in takeaway murder
NHS trusts' deficits run into millions of pounds
Updates from Friday 4 November 2016
Fire service guidance over sky lanterns as Bonfire Night loomspublished at 14:47 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
Man jailed for £200k VAT fraudpublished at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA man's been jailed for over two years for VAT fraud totalling more than £200,000.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) says Mike East (pictured), formerly known as Michael David Bull, pretended to trade in designer jewellery, IT services and sports equipment.
Image source, HMRCThey say their investigation started after the company director submitted several suspicious VAT repayment claims in 2013 and 2014.
The 32-year-old, from Giffords Croft, Lichfield was given 27 months in prison at Birmingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to 10 counts of making a false statement for the purposes of the Value Added Tax Act 1994.
Fugitive sex assault imam jailedpublished at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
An on-the-run imam found guilty of sexually assaulting two girls in a mosque is jailed for eleven and a half years.
Read MoreBell tolls for pickpockets in Lichfield purse crime crackdownpublished at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
Pickpockets and casual criminals planning to cash in for Christmas by targeting vulnerable victims shopping in Lichfield, external could find the alarm being raised rather sooner than they bargained.
UKIP MEP 'convinced' Brexit will happenpublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
The High Court ruling on Brexit "sadly comes as no surprise", said West Midlands UKIP MEP James Carver.
“The establishment are doing exactly the same as happened in Denmark, Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands and France, in previous EU referendums," he said.
“They are clearly trying to ignore the will of the people but whatever machinations they try, I am convinced we will leave the EU."
Rob Edwards to lead Wolves in match against Derbypublished at 13:48 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
BBC WM SportWolves have confirmed that Rob Edwards will still be in charge of the team for Saturday's home game against Derby County.
Edwards remains as interim head coach while the club continues its search for Walter Zenga's successor.
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End of twitter postWatch: Afternoon weatherpublished at 13:30 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenterCloud increasing through the day, with some rain in areas by evening. Highs of 8C (46F).
Media caption, Weather for the West Midlands.
Carjacking suspect hands himself inpublished at 13:02 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
A teenager hands himself into police after a 75-year-old man is hurt when he wrestles back car keys in a bid to foil would-be carjackers.
Read More'Emotional impact' on pupils following series of break-ins at special needs schoolpublished at 12:56 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
Bob Hockenhull
BBC Midlands TodayA school for pupils with special needs has been broken into three times in the past four weeks.
Thieves smashed their way into Chasetown Community School and stole the pupil's laptops and tablets they use for lessons.
The head teacher says it's the first time the school has faced a series of break-ins leaving the children extremely distressed.
Quote MessageBecause they are vulnerable youngsters this has a much greater impact on their emotional stability compared to youngsters who don't have the special educational needs that young people here have got."
Doctor Linda James, Head teacher
Latest Headlines: Car-jacking arrest for 16-year-old; imam sentenced for mosque sexual assaultspublished at 12:35 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
Annabel Rackham
Journalist, BBC West MidlandsThe top stories for Birmingham and the Black Country this afternoon include:
- A 16-year-old boy is arrested on suspicion of robbery and possession of a knife following a car-jacking
- An imam convicted of five counts of sexual assault on two girls at Cradley Heath Mosque is sentenced to 11 and a half years in prison
- A total of 110 roles are to be axed at Dudley Council - with another 60 due to go by 2020
Imam sentenced for mosque sex assaultspublished at 12:29 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
BBC WMAn imam convicted of five counts of sexual assault on two girls at Cradley Heath Mosque has been sentenced to 11 and a half years in prison.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Hafiz Rahman, from Ballard Road in Netherton, fled the country on a flight from Birmingham Airport to Dakar last month, the day after his conviction.
The 58-year-old was sentenced in his absence and the judge said he would also be banned from working with children for life.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceSport headlines: Will Lambert move to Wolves?; Grimsby begin talks with Bignotpublished at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
Mikey Burrows
BBC WM SportThe top sport stories for Birmingham and the Black Country include:
- Some bookmakers have suspended betting on Paul Lambert becoming the new Wolves boss
- Solihull Moors have granted League Two Grimsby permission to speak to manager Marcus Bignot
Arrest over carjackingpublished at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and possession of a knife following a car-jacking in which a man in his 70s was injured as he wrestled back his car keys.
Anthony Mathers, 75, was forced out of his car on Monday by three men with an imitation firearm, West Midlands Police said. It happened beneath a railway bridge in Roberts Road, Acocks Green.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceWhen the car stalled "yards" away, Mr Mathers confronted the thieves, was pushed to the ground but took back his keys.
A 17-year-old boy arrested earlier this week was released without charge and discounted from the investigation.
Police are still looking to trace two suspects and released this image captured by a dashboard camera.
Image source, West Midlands Police'Provocative' Enoch Powell play praisedpublished at 11:45 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
A new play about MP Enoch Powell is described as "the most provocative theatre act in a decade" by one critic.
Read MoreDudley council axing 170 rolespublished at 11:41 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
BBC WMA total of 110 roles will be axed at Dudley Council - with another 60 due to go by 2020.
The council, which revealed the measures in its budget proposals for next year, could also make cuts to the library and archive service, stop maintaining bowling greens and dim street lights as part of efforts to save £70m.
Council leader Pete Lowe said the authority was trying to change the ways services were delivered in the future and would look at outsourcing some services to volunteer groups or private companies.
Dudley student designer attracts celebrity followingpublished at 11:18 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
Annabel Rackham
Journalist, BBC West MidlandsA Birmingham City University student who started designing leather jackets in her bedroom has now got Kanye West, Kim Kardashian and Rihanna after them.
It started when Elizabeth Ilsley, 21, from Dudley bought a leather jacket from a charity shop and put the slogan on the back "I shave my legs for you".
She said it was just a phrase she had once used as her Facebook status. But when she posted a picture of the jacket on Instagram, she woke up to thousands of likes, including one from Rihanna which kick-started a flood of people becoming interested in her handiwork.
She now has a collection in London department store Liberty.
Image source, Elizabeth Ilsley/ InstagramBirmingham congestion charge ruled out againpublished at 10:38 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
Birmingham PostForce classed as 'outstanding'published at 10:21 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
West Midlands Police is one of only two forces in the country to be classed as "outstanding" because of the way it manages resources and new technology.
In a report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary it was praised for its level of planning as well as looking at crimes which go under-reported such as cyber crime.
Earlier this week, the force revealed its investment in new technology for officers such as better body cameras and smart phones.
Image source, Getty ImagesClearing of Black Country tip completepublished at 09:51 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
Annabel Rackham
Journalist, BBC West MidlandsA six-year row over a heap of waste in Brierley Hill that reached a height of 40ft has been resolved.
The site, owned by Refuse Derived Fuel Ltd (RDF), angered those living nearby who claimed it devalued their homes and brought vermin into the area.
The Environment Agency worked with RDF to clear the rubbish.
West Midlands Police chief: Knives now ‘fashion accessory’ for youths after series of violent attackspublished at 09:34 Greenwich Mean Time 3 November 2016
