Custody battle mum smothered sonpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
Lesley Speed claimed she found her son hanging from his scarf in his bedroom.
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Updates from 26 March to 3 April
Custody battle mum smothered sonpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
A38: Resurfacing work to take up to eight hourspublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
The road's going to be closed all night.
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End of twitter postCrime gang jailed for £10m drugs plotpublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
Five men, jailed for a plot to import and supply more than £10m of class A drugs, are now facing a combined total of more than 95 years in jail.
The men were part of a Leicester-based organised crime gang involved in importing heroin and cocaine hidden in purpose-built secret compartments in furniture, industrial bolts and clothes.
Image source, Leicestershire PoliceThe gang were (pictured clockwise from left):
- Ayaz Hussain, 28, of Fryant Way, Wembley, who admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine during the trial and was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years
- Jagdish Patel, 51, of The Firs, Syston, who was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine and heroin and conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin and was sentenced to 25 years
- Paulvinder Randhawa, 46, of Marsh Way, Wembley, who admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine at the start of the trial and was sentenced to 18 years
- Ravindra Modha, 55, of Sandiacre Drive, Thurmaston, who was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine and was sentenced to 16 years
- Talib Hussain, 59, of Bordesley Green, Birmingham, who was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine and heroin and conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin and was sentenced to 24 years
Det Insp Harry Rai, from Leicestershire Police, said: “Today’s sentencing marks the end of a very long and complex investigation.
"The communities of Leicestershire should be reassured that a significant amount of drugs has been prevented from reaching the streets."
Engineers on site of gas leakpublished at 16:46 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
BBC News TravelA gas leak on Birmimgham Road between Hatton and Warwick is being dealt with by engineers.
Image source, Warwickshire County CouncilTemporary roadworks have been put in place for the repairs expected to be completed by tomorrow morning, said Warwickshire County Council.
In the papers: Memorial planned for sepsis victimpublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
Allen Cook
BBC NewsThese are some of the headlines making the news among these Staffordshire newspapers:
Crewe teenager signs for Chelseapublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
Crewe Alexandra's teenage striker George Nunn signs for Premier League side Chelsea, BBC Radio Stoke reports.
Read MoreA38 to stay shut overnight after pipe repairspublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
BBC News TravelPart of the A38 which was closed due to flooding from a burst water pipe is going to stay shut overnight., external
Image source, Highways EnglandEmergency services were called in the early hours to the northbound stretch between Alrewas and Barton-under-Needwood.
Highways England says the road's going to be shut at the A513 junction because the tarmac needs several hours to cool - or 'cure' - so it'll be safe to drive on., external
Archie Spriggs: Mother breaks down as guilty verdict returnedpublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
A woman found guilty of murdering her seven-year-old son, with a scarf and a cushion, broke down as the verdict was delivered in court today.
Image source, West Mercia PoliceLesley Speed, 44, had denied killing Archie Spriggs at his home in Rushbury, near Church Stretton, Shropshire last year.
As the forewoman delivered the unanimous finding, Speed - flanked by two dock officers - broke down and shouted: "No, no, you've got it wrong. "My kids are my life, they're my world. Nothing would make me take their life."
Speed had claimed she found her son hanging from his scarf in his bedroom.
But the court heard her partner, who discovered Archie on his bunk, said Speed had told him she smothered the boy.
Power cut off as fire breaks out at housepublished at 16:08 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
Allen Cook
BBC NewsPower supplies had to be cut off in part of Tamworth as fire crews tackled a blaze this morning., external
Image source, Staffordshire Fire ServiceIt happened on the ground floor of a two-storey terraced house on Maitland, Glascote just before 11:00.
The fire service says it was caused by a fault in the fuse box and crews had to cut off the electricity to neighbouring houses while they put out the fire.
Gunshot damage to property investigatedpublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
Gunshots have been fired at a house in Birmingham.
No-one was injured, but a property was damaged in Lelsall Croft, Ladywood, yesterday evening.
Officers are appealing for anyone who may have seen a dark blue Land Rover Discovery-type vehicle in the area at the time to come forward.
Road revamp set to last seven monthspublished at 15:49 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
Motorists in Nuneaton are being warned to expect delays as work begins to relieve congestion on the A444.
Image source, Warwickshire County CouncilIt involves building a new southbound road through the middle of Coton Arches roundabout.
There will also be new pedestrian crossings and improvements for cyclists.
Work is expected to last about seven months.
No trains on the Stourbridge linepublished at 15:37 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
BBC News TravelA broken down train on the Stourbridge line means no trains are able to run.
Services between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town will be replaced by road transport.
Burglars smash their way into football club's shoppublished at 15:34 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio StokeBurglars smashed their way into Port Vale's club shop at the weekend and have stolen two tills.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt happened sometime between 17:00 on Saturday and this morning, police say.
The force says it's not clear how much was taken and they're reviewing CCTV footage.
Man guilty of boys' hit-and-run deathspublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
Corey, six, and Casper Platt-May, two, had been on a family trip to the park when they were hit.
Read MoreArchie Spriggs: Mother found guilty of murderpublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
BreakingThe mother of a seven-year-old boy, who was found dead in his bed, has been found guilty of his murder.
Lesley Speed, of Wall-under-Heywood, Shropshire, was found guilty of the murder of her son Archie at a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court today.
Image source, Family handoutHit-and-run deaths six days after man leaves prisonpublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
A serial criminal killed two brothers in a hit-and-run six days after being released from prison for possessing a machete.
Image source, West Midlands PoliceRobert Brown, from Attwood Crescent, Wyken, was jailed in November last year for possessing the weapon.
He had previously been convicted of wounding in 2014 and common assault and theft from a shop in 2016.
He admitted causing the deaths of Corey and Casper Platt-May by dangerous driving earlier.
'Disappointment' at fire service take overspublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
Allen Cook
BBC NewsThe Fire Brigades Union and a fire authority chairman have expressed "disappointment" that two police and crime commissioners (PCC) are taking over the running of three fire services.
The Home Office has confirmed that both Staffordshire and West Mercia's PCC's would take on the responsibility for their fire services.
The government hopes the changes will result in better collaboration between the police and fire service.
The Fire Brigades Union says it is disappointing the Home Office ignored concerns in Staffordshire where both the county council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council opposed the idea.
While the chairman of Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority expressed disappointment at the move but promised they would work with the PCC to get a "smooth transition".
Flight diverted due to medical emergencypublished at 14:53 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
A flight due to land at Birmingham Airport this afternoon has been diverted due to a "customer requiring medical attention", the airline said.
Flight LS1216 from Alicante will now land at London Gatwick, said Jet2.
Car smashes into home as family watches TVpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
The homeowner says it is nothing short of a miracle he and his family are still alive.
Read MoreA38 burst water pipe replacedpublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 26 March 2018
A burst water pipe is being replaced by contractors after flooding closed part of the A38 in Staffordshire.
Image source, Highways EnglandThe road is closed northbound between Alrewas and Barton-under-Needwood and traffic is being diverted.
Image source, Highways England