BBC Local Live: Birmingham and the Black Country

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

Live Reporting

MP tells men not to be 'shy about their bits' to avoid prostate cancerpublished at 16:54 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
The Huffington Post
The Conservative MP Michael Fabricant has told men to not be “shy” about their “bits and pieces” as that can lead to prostate cancer and death.
Image source, PA
In a personal blog for The Huffington Post, external today, the Lichfield MP describes the medical procedures he underwent.
Blood tests revealed he needed treatment including a biopsy.
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Everything might seem alright, but, as the old song goes, that ain’t necessarily so. So here’s the thing: It is no use men being shy about their bits and pieces. That can lead to death."
Michael Fabricant, Conservative MP for Lichfield
Severn Trent looks for pumpkin powerpublished at 16:46 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
Andy Giddings
BBC Shropshire
Used Halloween pumpkins are being used to create electricity by Severn Trent, which is throwing them into its anaerobic digestion plant located in Coleshill.
The company has been asking its staff to bring them in and says one 600g (1.3lb) pumpkin could power a light bulb for 24 hours.
The Coleshill plant produces 2.4MW of energy a year – the equivalent of powering 4,000 homes.
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Pumpkins, like all food waste, are packed with energy which with a bit of ingenuity can be unlocked and turned into power."
Chris Jellett, Severn Trent
Third burglary shuts school in Burntwoodpublished at 16:45 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
Lichfield Mercury
Police are appealing for information relating to burglaries at a school for children with special educational needs in Burntwood., external
Pensioner hospitalised after falling from roof of housepublished at 16:21 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
A Redditch pensioner has been taken to hospital in Birmingham after falling from the roof of his house and crashing through a skylight in his porch.
The 71-year-old, who lives near Moreton Stanley Park, suffered a head injury and severe rib injuries after hitting a waterbutt on his way down, before landing on concrete, the ambulance service has confirmed.
Despite being in considerable pain, he managed to get back inside the house and climb up the stairs to reach his phone to call for help.
Railway arch carjacking: Pensioner fights back with 'no regrets'published at 16:07 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
A 75-year-old man who fought back after being threatened with a knife and replica gun in Birmingham earlier this week says "he'd do it again".
Anthony Mathers, 75, was driving through a single-sided road under a railway arch when a man stood in the way stopping him from passing.
Mr Mathers who was threatened by three men got out of his car before they made off in his car but broke down only yards away.
He received bruising to his face and back after fighting back, but told the BBC he would do it again.
Image source, West Midlands Police
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I think people at my age are entitled to a quiet life - they don't deserve people coming up to them and take their possessions therefore I'd fight every time even if it meant losing my life and that's how I feel about it.
Anthony Mathers, Carjacking victim
Watch: Brass band strikes up to celebrate Brum Poppy Daypublished at 15:40 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
Daz Hale
BBC WM
It's Birmingham Poppy Day today and the day started at New Street railway station with a brass band to mark the occasion.
To mark the event there will be collections across the city, Birmingham Airport and the QE Hospital to raise money for the Poppy Appeal.
Media caption,
Brass band marks Birmingham Poppy Day at New Street station
Woman dies after falling from Library of Birmingham balconypublished at 15:16 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live
A woman has died after falling from a balcony at the Library of Birmingham this afternoon.
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police says they received a 999 call at 12:00 after witnesses saw a woman fall.
The woman's family have been informed. Officers are investigating however I'm told the death is not thought to be suspicious.
Image source, Getty Images
Wolves legend lifetime achievement award set for auctionpublished at 15:13 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
Express and Star
A lifetime achievement award presented to Wolves legend Billy Wright will be auctioned next week., external
Railway arch carjacking: Do you recognise this man?published at 14:53 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
An image of a man police want to speak to has been released after a 75-year-old man was carjacked under a railway arch in Birmingham.
Police say the man, external (pictured) is believed to be one of three men involved in the armed carjacking on Monday on Roberts Road, Acocks Green.
A 17-year-old man is being questioned by officers but West Midlands Police are continuing their appeal for information.
Image source, West Midlands Police
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Clearly this would have been a terrifying ordeal for anyone and I want to commend the bravery of the victim. Thankfully he was not seriously injured and his actions prevented the thieves from successfully stealing the car. Although the arrest is a significant development we are still looking to identify a second suspect caught on the dash cam footage from the vehicle.”
Tom Lyons, Investigating Officer, West Midlands Police
What was 3rd class rail travel like?published at 14:35 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
Liz McIvor discovers how Britain's railways were opened up for everyday people with the coming of 3rd class travel.
Third class eventually became the main way in which railways earned their income.
By 1913, 96% of all rail journeys were taken by 3rd class passengers in Britain.
At the other end of the social spectrum, wealthier travellers were introduced to luxurious innovations including American style pullman coaches which were became a regular staple of longer rail journeys.
Baby murder call: 'He's not breathing'published at 14:24 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
A 999 call was played in court of the moment little Joshua stopped breathing.
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Mum of murdered baby clutched toy in courtpublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
Ben Godfrey
BBC Midlands Today
Joshua Millinson was born a bright and healthy baby - 13 days later he suffered catastrophic brain injuries by the hands of his own father.
It appears that Joshua's mother Zoe Howell had separated from Daniel Sanzone just days before his brutal attack.
She clutched a baby's toy each day of the trial. She had denied causing or allowing her baby's death by effectively "turning a blind eye" to his violence. Today the baby's 19-year-old mother was cleared of Joshua's death.
Newborn baby murder: Father acted in 'fit of rage'published at 13:52 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
Daniel Sanzone was alone in the lounge with his baby son. In a fit of rage, the 23-year old violently shook Joshua leaving him with injuries so severe, he was unable to see or hear.
The mother of Joshua Millinson says she heard a thud while out of the room but Sanzone said the noise had been caused when he "dropped the remote".
The 13-day old baby was taken to hospital from his home in Whitburn Close, Wolverhampton following a 999 call but died in hospital four weeks later.
The post-mortem examinations revealed Joshua died as a result of deliberately inflicted injuries and a catalogue of older fractures to the baby's lower legs and rib cage.
Special needs school burgled three times in three weekspublished at 13:45 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
Allen Cook
BBC Local Live
A school for children with special educational needs has been broken into for the third time in three weeks. , external
Staffordshire Police say laptops and tablets were taken in the most recent burglary this morning at Chasetown Community School on Church Street.
Officers say two similar break-ins happened on 12 and 22 October.
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This is particularly distressing for them (the pupils) as they have Special Educational Needs. The fact the school has been subject to three burglaries in quick succession is callous and cynical."
Insp Rob Neeson, Local Policing Team Commander for Staffordshire Police
Attacked man refuses to hand over keyspublished at 13:40 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
A pensioner was assaulted in an attempted car-jacking in Birmingham but refused to hand over his keys.
Three men with an imitation firearm forced Anthony Mathers, 75, to get out of his car in Roberts Road in Acock's Green.
But they drove for "a matter of yards" before stalling on Oxford Road, police said.
Mr Mathers confronted the thieves and was assaulted and pushed to the floor, but refused to hand over the keys.
A 17-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of robbery.
'Baby shaken so violently he could no longer hear, see or breathe'published at 13:29 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
Daniel Sanzone shook his two-week-old baby so violently he could no longer see or hear, the trial at Birmingham Crown Court was told.
Joshua Millinson died from "catastrophic and irreversible" brain injuries at the hands of his father at his Wolverhampton home.
The 23-year-old was found guilty of murder and child cruelty.
PICTURED: Father guilty of killing baby sonpublished at 13:04 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
A father has been found guilty of murdering his baby son and child cruelty - but the child's mother was cleared by a jury.
Daniel Sanzone (pictured) has been found guilty of the murder of his son Joshua Millinson, who was only weeks old.
The child's mother, Zoe Howell, was cleared of allowing his death and walked free from court.
The pair, of Whitburn Close, Pendeford, Wolverhampton, were charged in October last year, after Joshua died in hospital.
Image source, West Midlands Police
Father found guilty of murdering his sonpublished at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
Breaking
A father has been found guilty of murdering his newborn baby son, who died a month after being taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Daniel Sanzone was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court of murder.
The boy was two weeks old when he was admitted to hospital in October 2015. He died a month later.
Boy seriously injured after being hit by a buspublished at 12:40 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
BBC WM
A young boy has been seriously injured after being hit by a bus in West Bromwich.
Emergency services were called to Crankhall Lane just before 16:00 yesterday afternoon were the boy was found under the bus.
The boy, who is thought to be about 11, was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital.
Lambert favourite for Wolvespublished at 12:13 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2016
Mikey Burrows
BBC WM Sport
Former Villa boss Paul Lambert is now the overwhelming favourite to take over at Wolves.
Some bookies have him as low as one to five to become the new head coach, though we understand he hasn't been offered the job yet and there are still other candidates in the running.
Image source, Getty Images
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Whatever the circumstances they won't give up - they won't stop going for the club. It's not ideal. We're not the finished product at the moment. We've had a high turnover of players and we're just trying to bed something in and get a style and really settle things down and climb back up the table.
Danny Batth, Wolves captain