Stephen Pearson was convicted of 13 counts of rape and seven of indecent assault.

Shropshire Star

These are some of the headlines in the Shropshire Star today:

• Midwives cautioned over baby's death, external
• Alleged racist abuse during Shropshire cup clash, external
• ‘Lazy’ Shrewsbury homes plan is thrown out, external

Three men have been arrested in Hanley on suspicion of having Class A drugs with intent to supply.

Staffordshire Police said one of them was a 43-year-old local man and the other two were 19 and 20 and from Merseyside.

Image source, Staffordshire Police

They also seized drugs and mobile phones after searching the men in Matthew's Walk.

Sara Thornton
BBC Weather

We could be seeing some sunshine this weekend and temperatures could be up to around 10C (50F) in places.

Three men have been charged in connection with a crash in which a woman and her baby were injured.

Ahassin Javaid, 31 and from Greengates Street in Tunstall is charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, as has Bellal Ahmad, 27 of Emerson Road, Stoke-on-Trent.

Image source, Google

The third man, Aqeeb Rasab, 25 of Emerson Road, Stoke-on-Trent was charged with perverting the course of justice.

All three will appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on 30 April.

The crash took place in Cobridge back in August 2017.

A father speaks out after losing his leg and becoming partially-sighted.

Students have staged protests as part of an international youth campaign demanding action on climate change.

Organisers behind the Youth Strike 4 Climate movement said "sizeable events" would take place in major towns and cities.

Birmingham councillor Waseem Zaffar tweeted his appreciation of the protestors in the city centre.

Yardley MP Jess Philips posted a picture on Instagram that she'd joined the demonstration.

Image source, Jess Phillips MP

A car has reversed into the front of an office in Lichfield.

Staffordshire Police said no-one was hurt and no action has been taken against the driver after the crash on Bore Street at 14:19.

Image source, @WaiLeeHo

A structural engineer has been called to inspect the damage and staff at the offices of Field Hamlin Independent Financial Adviser say they have no comment to make.

Two men are accused of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Prosecutors said Alex Hepburn "dehumanised" women, rating them in text messages.

Fifteen suspected victims of exploitation, including a child, have been identified in a raid on a Sandwell factory.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Officers joined council workers to execute the warrant at the factory in Anne Road, Smethwick, on Wednesday after receiving reports of labour exploitation and trafficking.

About 60 workers were spoken to and a child taken into the care of children's services during the swoop, police said.

West Midlands Police said 10 people were arrested for immigration matters. Five have been bailed with the other five dealt with by immigration officials.

Dave Guest
Chief reporter, BBC North West Tonight

The death of a Sandbach man on the island of Crete remains unexplained, after an inquest recorded an open verdict.

Steven Cook, who was 20, was last seen outside a pub in Malia in 2005. His remains were discovered in a well 12 years later after several appeals by his family and police to trace him.

Image source, www.findstevencook.co.uk

Coroner Alan Moore recorded an open verdict, saying there was no way to conclude absolutely whether he had fallen into the well accidentally or had been a victim of crime.

Greek police had failed to find any firm leads in their investigation into Mr Cook's disappearance.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club says it is "appalled" by details that emerged during the trial of former player, Alex Hepburn.

Prosecutors said Hepburn "dehumanised" women, rating them in text messages.

He was earlier found guilty of one charge of rape and cleared of another after a trial at Worcester Crown Court.

Image source, Getty Images

The club said Hepburn was suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board after he was charged in November 2017 and his contract expired and was not renewed in September 2018.

A two-day festival, billed as one of the biggest music events in Coventry, has been cancelled, with the promoter blaming "immense financial pressure".

Image source, Getty Images

Artists Clean Bandit, David Guetta and Anne-Marie were among artists booked to play Soundscape at the city's Ricoh Arena in June.

Stuart Cain, Managing Director at Ricoh Arena, said he was "surprised and disappointed" to hear from the promoter that the event was no longer going ahead.

A statement on the promoter's, external website said it is with a "heavy heart" that the event has been cancelled.

"Unfortunately the event’s major investors who had been in place since last year recently pulled out," it said.

Ticket holders were being advised to contact ticket providers to seek a refund.

League Two bottom side Notts County sign goalkeeper Alex Palmer from West Brom on a seven-day emergency loan.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are three headlines from the Stoke-on-Trent Live page today:

• Abandoned building site workers' cabin used as drugs den, external
• 'No further action' after armed police called to street, external
• Parents hit out at exclusive tea party for pupils with 100% attendance, external

A 38-year-old man has been charged with a number of sexual offences after being arrested in Stoke-on-Trent on Tuesday evening.

Staffordshire Police said the man, who has no fixed address, appeared before magistrates this morning and will now appear at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 20 May.

The force said he has been charged with kidnap, kidnap/false imprisonment and a catalogue of sexual offences.

Former Worcestershire cricketer Alex Hepburn has been cleared of a second count of rape by a jury at Worcester Crown Court.

He was found guilty of one count of oral rape and will be sentenced at Hereford Crown Court on 30 April.

Image source, Ben Birchall/PA WIRE

The court had been told he had carried out the attack on the sleeping woman during a sexual conquest "game".

Road closures will be put in place for Coventry's annual Vaisakhi event on Sunday.

Image source, National Express

Various roads in the Foleshill area of the city will close between 12.00 to 16.00 for one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar.

You can find details of bus diversions here., external

Campaign leaflets distributed outside a Birmingham school say it has a "gay ethos".