Tom Oakley

A Coventry woman who was raped as a child fears her attacker could be released early under government plans to ease prison overcrowding. Jade Belgrove, whose abuser Simon Tyler was jailed for nine years in 2024, said the early release proposal leaves victims feeling abandoned and at greater risk. She launched a petition seeking to exclude violent sexual offenders from the scheme. The Ministry of Justice said early release measures are needed to prevent prisons from running out of space and emphasised ongoing efforts to improve sentencing, victim support, and public safety.

Conflicting height restriction signs on the Colton Road railway bridge in Rugeley will be replaced after concerns from lorry driver Mike Craney, who warned the discrepancies could lead to bridge strikes. The incorrectly marked council‑maintained signs contrasted with accurate Network Rail signage, contributing to a location that has seen seven strikes in three years. Staffordshire County Council and Network Rail will update all signage to reflect the correct 13ft 9in headroom. Network Rail noted the national scale of bridge strikes and reiterated efforts to work with local authorities and operators to reduce incidents.

An American illusionist, Charles Kirkham, created a theatrical throne used by Ozzy Osbourne during his 1982 Diary of a Madman tour, adapting a prop originally built for a 1970s ice-skating show. His son Richard recalls helping refurbish and test the illusion, which allowed Ozzy to appear through smoke during performances and later featured in the artwork for the Speak of the Devil album. The family never saw it used live but later viewed footage on television. A different throne from Osbourne’s final performance has recently gone on display in Birmingham.

Torbjorn Heggem’s father credits West Bromwich Albion with creating the opportunity that led to his son representing Norway at the World Cup, describing the defender’s year at the club as transformative. The family reflects on the supportive environment at West Brom, their experiences in the Black Country, and their excitement ahead of Norway’s quarter-final against England. Trond Heggem predicts a 2–1 win for Norway, with his son expected to mark Harry Kane.

Police charged 66‑year‑old Trevor Dunkley with murdering Patricia Lashley, who disappeared from Dudley in 1998. Detectives are seeking information from anyone who knew either individual to help reconstruct Lashley’s life. Lashley, a mother of seven with connections across the UK, was last seen near her Dudley home. Her family previously issued appeals for information as they continue seeking closure.

A Solihull community group, Blossom & Belong, is raising funds to host a sensory‑friendly prom for teenage girls who missed traditional school events due to anxiety, autism or sensory challenges. Founded by Fay Joesbury after her daughter’s struggles with school attendance, the group offers a safe social space through weekly activities. The planned prom will feature accessibility measures including a silent disco, sensory areas and fidget toys, and will be supported by the Madrina charity, which provides free prom outfits. Families and participants have expressed strong enthusiasm for the event.

Two men in Birmingham who overcame long-term alcoholism now support others through Alcoholics Anonymous. Andrew Griffiths, sober since 2005, describes how addiction stripped him of self-worth before finding help through AA. Andrew Piper, sober since 2016 after decades of addiction that damaged his health, relationships and business, credits AA with saving his life. Both encourage people struggling with alcohol dependence to seek support, highlighting the availability of AA meetings across Birmingham.

A Birmingham carpenter with terminal lung cancer turned to poetry to cope with his diagnosis and challenge taboos around discussing cancer. Paul Stevenson Lothian, known as T, found that writing and performing poetry helped him regain confidence and view his illness as something he controls rather than something that defines him. Encouraged by reactions at open mic nights, he now openly addresses cancer and promotes treating it as a subject that should not be avoided. An uplifting moment during a rollerskating session reinforced his sense of personal agency, leading him to nickname his cancer “LC” and approach life with renewed determination.

A mother from Dorridge spent eight years seeking a diagnosis for her son Ben, who was eventually identified as having ultra‑rare You‑Hoover‑Fong syndrome through the 100,000 Genomes Project. After years balancing work and caring responsibilities, she left her legal career to support him full‑time and later founded Blue Badgers, a platform and app designed to provide accessibility information and discounts for disabled people and unpaid carers. The initiative aims to improve everyday experiences for families with additional needs and raise recognition of carers’ challenges.

An upcoming Compton Verney exhibition will present the first major retrospective on designer Enid Marx, inspired by the collection she donated after visiting the estate in 1995. Running from July to January 2027, it brings together loans from major institutions and personal items linked to Marx and her partner Margaret Lambert. Curators aim to reestablish Marx’s role as a key figure in British modernism, highlighting her contributions to textile and pattern design, including the iconic London Underground fabrics.

Frequent lorry collisions with railway bridges continue to cause major delays and costly repairs across the UK, with more than 1,600 strikes recorded in a year. Veteran drivers and industry experts attribute the problem to human error, inadequate training, overreliance on technology and poorly measured loads. Network Rail is testing remote monitoring systems at high‑risk bridges while haulage representatives stress that fatigue, medical issues and misuse of sat‑navs contribute significantly to incidents. Civil engineers warn that structural damage from such crashes can be extensive and costly, underscoring the need for better driver awareness and safety practices.

A trusted financial adviser in a Warwickshire village, Timothy Barnes, defrauded 36 friends, neighbours and clients of nearly £2m in six months by borrowing money under false pretences. Victims, including close friends and elderly relatives, described deep personal betrayal as excuses mounted and repayments never came. Barnes also defrauded a charitable trust and a residents' association, investing stolen funds into a cryptocurrency wallet. He admitted multiple fraud charges and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

A German Shepherd police dog named Nipper was reunited with his former foster carers, Jackie and Dave Macdonald, ten years after they first looked after him as a six‑week‑old puppy. After completing police training and serving with Suffolk and Norfolk Police, Nipper retired and was adopted by officers Ella and Dan, who arranged the reunion. The meeting brought closure to the Macdonald family, who credited Nipper with helping them through the grief of losing their son and expressed gratitude for the long-awaited reunion.