Latest news with #SuttonColdfield
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Asda thief sat on man and kissed him in car park before stealing gold chain
A driver told how a brazen thief sat on him in an Asda store car park and repeatedly kissed him while stealing his gold chain. The crook, described as a middle-aged woman, approached George Lovatt as he waited in his car in a disabled bay at the Minworth store in Sutton Coldfield at around 12.30pm on Monday, June 16. At first the woman and her younger accomplice were asking about blue badges and asking for money, he said. READ MORE: Police called to Sutton Coldfield town centre fight as 'man attacked woman' But when those requests were refused, the older woman sat on him and started kissing him, before stealing a gold chain he had had for 30 years, with two crosses on it. George, from Coleshill, told BirminghamLive: 'At first, I thought it was a joke. 'I drove to Asda with my wife and daughter. It was that hot I let the women go into the store. 'It was red hot on the driver's side so I moved to the passenger side. 'I sat out of the car and I was approached by a middle-aged woman and a younger one. 'They had a sheet with them with signatures and the blue badge sign and they were asking for money.' The 84-year-old continued: 'Then the older woman climbed over me. At first I thought somebody had set me up. 'She was kissing me around the neck and on the lips. I thought she was a bit familiar. I pushed her away and she got out of the car. 'I phoned my daughter to tell them what happened just before 12.30pm. They thought I was having them on. 'When I got home I noticed my gold chain was gone. We tried to get Asda security and then phoned 999 and was told to call 101.' READ MORE: Anger as police officer parks on double yellows to get takeaway meal Mr Lovatt continued: 'My wife bought the gold chain originally. It has got two crosses on it. 'I only said to her the other day, 'I wonder how much that would be worth'. 'Fortunately I usually have a chain on my hand, but that was still on the dresser and I hadn't worn it. 'These women are obviously preying on people in blue badge areas. Apparently, it has happened at a Tesco too.' Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join Mr Lovatt added: 'I have been having panic attacks since an operation for a detached retina. 'This has made that worse. What made it worse was the climbing on top of me and kissing me. 'Anybody walking past the car would have thought she was making love to me. A police officer said they had a special team looking into it and had pictures from Asda." Get the latest Sutton Coldfield news delivered direct to your inbox A West Midlands Police spokesman said: 'We're investigating a distraction theft, outside a supermarket on Walmley Ash Road, Sutton Coldfield, at around 12.30pm on Monday, June 16. 'It's reported two women approached a man, one began to kiss him, and he pushed her away. 'Afterwards the man noticed a gold chain and crucifix he was wearing was missing. 'We are in contact with the man who reported this, and officers are reviewing CCTV as part of the investigation. 'Anyone with information should contact us on 101 quoting 20/277138/25.'
BBC News
14-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Sutton Coldfield Sikh memorial founder 'elated' by King's honour
A man who established the UK's first memorial to Sikhs who served in both world wars has been recognised for his voluntary work in the King's Birthday Honours Jagjit Singh Sohal from Sutton Coldfield has been appointed an OBE for services to the commemoration of Commonwealth soldiers who served Great founded the World War One Sikh Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire in 2015, and has since contributed to other local monuments for Sikhs - promoting their roles in past said he was "humbled and elated" by the news, adding that it had been "the honour of my life" to commemorate Sikhs who so that their memory lives on forevermore". "The valour of the Sikhs in particular inspired me to join the Army Reserve, to deploy on operations and fight for my country and create the national WW1 Sikh Memorial," the 42-year-old said."My hope is that young people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds like mine are inspired by those who serve, to take a stand for the freedoms we cherish today."Mr Sohal said he had also created and delivered educational programmes and events for people from diverse backgrounds to learn more about the Sikh contribution during the wars and continued service in modern 2017, he said he was invited to join the board of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's charitable foundation and earlier this year represented it at the unveiling of a new memorial to African Labourers from Cape Town, in South Africa, at Coventry Cathedral for VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations. Other Staffordshire honours recipients include:Emma Mary Bridgewater, founder of Emma Bridgewater Pottery, is appointed a DBE for services to ceramicsSean Allen Whinray, of Stafford, senior support officer at the Staffordshire Lieutenancy, is appointed an MVO (Member of the Royal Victorian Order) for services to the CrownMichael Charles Mellor, of Cannock, coordinator of the Miners Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, is appointed an OBE for services to heritage and to recognition of the mining communityDr Diane Swift, of Burton upon Trent, a trustee of The Creative Learning Partnership Trust, is appointed an OBE for services to educationProf Sharon Arkell, of Burntwood, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing at the University of Wolverhampton, is appointed an MBE for for services to higher educationRachel Daly, of Tamworth, is appointed an MBE for services to association footballJohn Ian Davies, of Stafford, Associate Professor of Biomedical Science Practice at Staffordshire University, is appointed an MBE for services to the NHS diagnostic pathology service and biomedical science educationSaffron Fern Lane, of Pattingham, lately captain of the GB Women's Ice Hockey team, is appointed an MBE for services to sportGraham Lee, of Tamworth, Chair of the Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust Ltd, is appointed an MBE for services to heritage railway preservation and charityGareth Brian Moss, of Alrewas, Chair of Trustees for the John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust, is appointed an MBE for services to educationElisabeth Brownlees, of Tamworth, a foster carer for the Birmingham Children's Trust, is awarded a BEM for services to foster careGavin Brownlees, of Tamworth, a foster carer for the Birmingham Children's Trust, is awarded a BEM for services to foster careAndrew David Buttery, of High Offley, a volunteer for Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in StaffordshireValerie Neale, of Stonnall, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in StonnallTracey O'Flaherty, of Stafford, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Staffordshire Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Urgent appeal to find missing Sutton Coldfield girl – public urged ‘call 999'
An urgent appeal has been launched to find a missing girl from Sutton Coldfield. Demi is 15 and has not been seen since shortly before 3pm on Friday (June 13). The public are being urged to call 999 immediately if they spot her. Demi is white and pictured with short brown hair. Read more: Mum 'looked in eye' by thief as gang stole BMW and Porsche off driveway Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join At the time of her disappearance she was said to be wearing black and white joggers a black Berghaus puffer jacket and blue/black Nike trainers. In a statement a spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: 'Have you seen Demi, aged 15, who's missing from Sutton Coldfield? 'Demi was last seen at 2.48pm on the 13th June. 'She was wearing black and white joggers a black Berghaus puffer jacket and blue/black Nike trainers." Read more: Popular dad died at hospital after medics made scan error Get the latest BirminghamLive news direct to your inbox The statement continued and said: 'Call 999 if you see Demi, quoting log 3618-130625.' Alternatively, anyone with any information but who does not have details of her immediate whereabouts, should call 101, quoting the same log number.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Birmingham hospital's lack of radiologists criticised after death
A lack of radiologists on duty was a key factor in the death of a man who went into hospital suffering chest pains, a coroner Villa fan Mark Villers died three days after he sought help while suffering from an unidentified tear in his aorta – the artery carrying blood from his heart – at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, on 21 May Louise Hunt said, in a prevention of future deaths report, his condition went undiagnosed as abnormalities that showed up on a CT scan were not recognised, but should have prompted tests that would have discovered the BBC has approached University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust for a response. Since Mr Villers died, a fundraising page set up for his family has raised more than £33, Stephen Plant said Mr Villers had been a selfless, kind, caring and strong person who had been "striving to make a difference in this world".He said the loyal Villa fan had been a "passionate lover of life". 'Large number of CT scans' The coroner's report described how Mr Villers went to the hospital on 18 May 2024 with a severe chest pain, initially assessed by medics as alcohol-induced gastritis, a digestive CT scan was reported as showing no abnormalities but a review later revealed it had shown problems that, if they had been spotted, further tests would have been carried out and his life could have been 20 May, Mr Villers returned to the hospital and it was thought he had infected gallstones. He stayed overnight and no concerns were noted but an inquest heard he was found collapsed the next morning and could not be resuscitated.A post-mortem examination confirmed the tear in the aorta caused Mr Villers' death. Ms Hunt said the trust investigated and found there were "insufficient radiologists to report the large number of CT scans undertaken over the weekend period" at the time Mr Villers went to said it was "one of the root causes of the very subtle abnormality indicating aortic dissection being missed".Her report said the inquest heard, while the situation had improved at the hospital, the number of radiologists on duty was still not in accordance with Royal College of Radiology (RCR) BBC has contacted the RCR for a comment on what the required staffing levels are. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Birmingham retirement home residents sort rotting waste amid strike
People living in a retirement complex have said they had to sort out rotting waste after missed bin collections amid Birmingham's long-running strike. Kay Friday, from Tudor Court retirement complex in Sutton Coldfield, said they had to act after rubbish built up for four weeks, blocking their disposal chute."It was just a sea of waste and some of it was seeping out of the bags and it was so disgusting," she said. Meanwhile, in Bordesley Green a public meeting calling for an end to the strike will take place on Tuesday evening as the industrial action enters its third month. Birmingham City Council said it had made a "fair and reasonable offer" and remained committed to resolving the dispute, but Unite union said members still sought an "acceptable offer". On-and-off action began on 6 January, with an indefinite all-out strike starting 11 March. Last week Unite said the strike could last until December, after members voted to continue industrial action. Ms Friday said the situation was "not fair on the older, vulnerable residents" at the complex of about 50 flats, which included people aged in their 80s and 90s. "We're worried every single week, are our three bins, which are chock-a-block by then... going to be collected?" She said they contacted the council to collect the mounting rubbish and after a delay it was removed last Thursday. Prior to this, the chute which takes waste to the ground floor storage area became blocked. Ms Friday said: "The state it was in - all three bins were full to overflowing so myself and my sister and a couple of the residents came in, we got a step ladder in, we went into that bin and we had to just keep fishing it out so that they could use the chute.""It did smell. Well I came in and I mean there were flies buzzing around and it was pretty horrific. It was a mixture of rotting ordinary waste together with the medical waste."She added they had to close the chute for a time and elderly residents had to take rubbish to the room via a lift. Shafaq Hussain has organised the meeting at St Pauls Church, Bordesley Green, later and hopes to hear from a range of people added: "We have just recently had Eid and some of the inner city areas are really piling up with lots of rubbish." Mr Hussain said he was part of a group which had asked the council and union for details and reasons behind "the stalemate" in resolutions. Negotiations to end the strike are continuing. "The council recognises the significant impact that industrial action has had on the people and communities of Birmingham," the local authority said. "The council remains committed to resolving the industrial action in the best interest of all parties involved."And the union said it was still looking for an "acceptable offer". "Unite understands residents' frustration but the responsibility for the dispute lies with the council."The only written proposal the council has ever put forward came two weeks ago, after sixth months of strike action and was not in line with the ballpark offer discussed during Acas talks in May." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
