A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following an attack in the Stoke area of Coventry.
The 41-year-old local was arrested at his home at 7.30am this morning (Saturday 12 March) just one hour after a 36-year-old man was seriously assaulted. Initial inquiries suggest that both men know each other.
“Although the attack is believed to have happened elsewhere, we were called to a petrol station on Binley Road shortly before 6am following reports of a disturbance on the forecourt,” said Detective Sergeant Joel Mildinhall, from West Midlands Police.
“Officers attended and found the local man with serious head injuries. He was cared for by officers until medics took him to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.”
The motive for the attack and its precise location remain unclear and detectives are working hard to piece together the evidence.
CCTV has been downloaded for immediate review and house to house inquiries have taken place.
Forensic scene investigators have also scoured the area for clues.
The injured man’s car – an Audi A4 – was on the forecourt and has been removed to a secure location for a details forensic analysis.
Anyone with information which may help Det Con Mildenhall should call him on 101. Information can also be passed on anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Man arrested in Coventry attack investigation
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Court: Man charged after petrol station attack
A man is set to appear before Coventry magistrates tomorrow (Monday 14 March) accused of attacking a 36-year-old and leaving him in hospital.
Unemployed Marcin Scherer, 41, of Fusilers Close, Stoke, Coventry will appear before the court charged with grievous bodily harm and cannabis production.
Officers were called to a petrol station on Binley Road shortly before 6am on Saturday 12 March following reports of a disturbance.
A 36-year-old local man was found with serious head injuries.
Anyone with information which may aid the on-going inquiry should call Detective Sergeant Joel Mildinhall on 101. Information can also be passed on anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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PSCO given 12 month community order after admitting fraud
A West Midlands Police community support officer has been given a 12 month community order and a fine after admitting she changed her NVQ qualification to a higher grade while applying to join the regular police force.
Samantha Skinner, aged 24, who was based at Walsall police station, was also handed a 12 month supervision order and told she must complete 60 hours of unpaid work when she appeared at Birmingham Crown Court today (Tuesday 15 March).
She had earlier pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.
Ms Skinner had been suspended from the force and was due to face internal disciplinary proceedings but has submitted her resignation.
Ms Skinner, who worked for the force for seven years, was interviewed about the matter in July 2015 after it was found she had altered an NVQ Level 1 certificate to Level 3 after applying to become a police officer.
Chief Inspector Kevin Doyle, from the force’s recruitment programme, said: "West Midlands Police is committed to recruiting the very best people from our communities to form the next generation of officers. Ms Skinner dishonestly claimed to have a qualification that she did not possess. Her behaviour fell short of the standards we expect from potential recruits and this was especially disappointing given she was already part of our organisation. She was not fit to be a police officer in the West Midlands and as a consequence she was prosecuted for criminal matters."
"The competition for appointment to serve our communities as a police officer has been intense, as has the rigour and scrutiny that we have applied to the assessment and selection of recruits. I hope today’s conviction will reassure the communities of the West Midlands how dedicated we are to ensuring fair and ethical selection processes."
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Be our guest – new police custody suite opens
A new 60-bed facility, unlikely to feature in any most wanted place to stay list, has opened in Oldbury today (Tuesday 22 March), complete with en-suite rooms, especially for guests of West Midlands Police.
In a first for the force the new facility is a dedicated custody suite and does not have a police station attached.
The building is three years in the making, from planning approval through to a finished product, and has been officially opened this morning by Chief Constable Dave Thompson and Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson
The suite, which is close to Sandwell and Dudley railway station, has been built on 3.4 acres.
The cells have cameras, anti-graffiti surfaces, reflective ceiling domes so occupants can be seen at all times plus low beds to prevent falls. The building has been designed to prevent harm and keep people safe whilst in police custody.
Oldbury custody suite also has four accessible cells for disabled occupants and six windowed cells for high-risk detainees, who previously had to be monitored by officers sitting in the open doorway of their cell.
The corridors are much wider, providing a safer environment for staff and detainees when restraint is necessary.
The central hub has six desks, six times as many as was standard and a control desk from which all areas of the suite can be monitored using cameras, intercoms and alarm panels on every wall.
The suite has state-of-the-art equipment in its medical room, fingerprint room and intoximeter room. There are 12 interview rooms, to further cut waiting times all fitted with state of the art digital interview recording facilities.
The building will house detainees mainly from across the western side of the West Midlands Police area.
It has been designed in line with the latest standards and will enable officers to safely detain and interview those suspected of crime.
It is the first of two 60 -cell custody suites with the second due to open in Perry Barr in May.
The new facility provides much greater flexibility in meeting demand that should speed up the booking in process allowing officers to return to their local front-line policing duties much faster after taking a detainee to custody.
It also offers greater opportunities to work with partners in health creating pathways intended to deal with those suffering mental illness or addicted to drugs or alcohol.
The modernising custody project is part of the force’s WMP2020 organisational change programme.
Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: “I am really pleased to be opening this facility today.
“We have been trying to conduct modern policing in what are essentially out-dated blocks with limited space. On many occasions we end up in a bottleneck situation with not enough space to cater for demand.
"Now we have a purpose-built facility in which we will never need to hold up processing.
"The standard of this suite is absolutely fantastic and it will allow us to run a much more efficient service.
"The speed with which we can deal with detainees will increase, meaning officers can spend more time on the streets.
“However fantastic the suite is though it’s not a great place to spend time in and as well as a place to question and investigate offenders we now have the space to work with those in our care to try to prevent the cycle of offending.”
PCC David Jamieson said: "This is an important investment for policing in the West Midlands and will bring our custody facilities up to date.
“The new custody suite is a significant commitment that will support service improvements, provide further budget savings and speed up the booking in process so officers are back out on the streets where the public wants them
“This is a state-of-the-art complex which will ensure West Midlands Police is at the forefront of fighting and preventing crime and keeping people in our communities safe.
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Further charges for Walsall men arrested for terror-related offences
Two Walsall men have been charged today (Wednesday 23 March) with helping to fund terrorism.
Maruf Uddin, aged 26 an accountant from Earl Street, has been charged with one count of arranging funds or property for purposes of terrorism under Sec 17 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and Mohammed Atiqur Khan, aged 27 a warehouse distributor from Buckle Close, has been charged with two counts.
Both men were originally arrested on Thursday 14 January by officers from the Counter Terrorism Unit and were given conditional bail while further enquiries were carried out.
The two men were charged with the offences this morning and have been bailed to appear before Westminster Magistrates Court tomorrow (Thursday 24 March).
The investigation was intelligence-led with no immediate threat to public safety.
Two other men arrested on 12 January by counter terrorism officers in Walsall as part of the same investigation are currently remanded into custody awaiting court proceedings.
Mohammed Iqbal Hussain, aged 25 from Castle Road, Walsall and Mohamed Suyaubur Rohaman, aged 32 of the same address, were earlier charged with four counts of funding terrorism and one count of funding terrorism respectively.
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Two Walsall men charged with helping to fund terrorism
Two Walsall men have appeared in court this morning (Thursday 24 March) charged with helping to fund terrorism.
Maruf Uddin, aged 26 an accountant from Earl Street, pleaded not guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court to one count of arranging funds or property for purposes of terrorism under Sec17 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Mohammed Atiqur Khan, aged 27, a warehouse distributer from Buckle Close, offered no plea to two charges of arranging funds or property for purposes of terrorism.
Both have been bailed with strict conditions imposed by the court to reappear at The Old Bailey Criminal Court on Friday 1 April.
Both men were originally arrested by officers from West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit in January this year. Two other men from Walsall, also arrested as part of the same investigation, are currently remanded in custody awaiting court proceedings.
Mohammed Iqbal Hussain, aged 25 from Castle Road, Walsall, and Mohammed Suyaubur Rohaman, aged 32 of the same address, were earlier charged with four counts of funding terrorism and one count of funding terrorism respectively.
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Bobbies give Coventry kids an Easter treat
Kind-hearted bobbies on the beat provided treats in Coventry - after handing over gifts to children.
Officers from the Binley and Willenhall neighbourhood team gave out more than 60 goodies ranging from books, jigsaws and DVDs to youngsters.
Led by Sergeant Antony Ashton the team of PCs and PCSOs decided to hand over old family toys to children in the community.
The team have become familiar faces with families in the Binley and Willenhall area from their routine patrols - and presented presents while out on the streets.
Sgt Ashton said: "This was our chance to give something back to the community and it was great to see all the smiling faces.
"It was good to be able to engage with the children; and a lot of parents were saying it was a nice thing to do.
"We want to work with our community and make a difference; the beaming faces on their faces as we handed over the toys made it all worthwhile."
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Dog Unit goes Dutch as Bart hits the streets!
West Midlands Police’s Dog Unit is going Dutch in its latest move to catch crooks and keep the region’s streets safe.
German Shepherds make up the bulk of the force’s four-legged crime-fighting corps but Police Dog Bart is the first Dutch Herder to join the ranks.
Jet black Bart (pictured below and as a puppy in training) teamed up with handler Keith Bennett when he was just eight weeks old but has now hit the streets having graduated from West Midlands Police’s award-winning training programme with distinction.
He’s one of six Dutch Herders bought by the unit last year as trainers explore opportunities to introduce new breeds.
Dog handler and trainer, PC Terry Arnett, said: “Herders are very sociable dogs, confident and highly driven…it makes them potentially excellent police dogs and we’re confident Bart will be a huge success.
“Bart has been trained to locate and catch crime suspects and uncover any stolen property, weapons or clothing − evidence that’s often crucial in securing court convictions. He’s only been on the streets a few days but the early signs are good.
“We have kept another Herder as a brood bitch and all being well hope to have our first litter later this year.”
West Midlands Police operates one of the largest, most successful police dog breeding schemes in the country.
Close to 1,000 German Shepherds have come through the programme’s base in Balsall Common – a centre awarded Assured Breeder Accreditation by the Kennel Club in recognition of its commitment to dog welfare – since it was launched in 1994.
In December 2012, a litter of German Shepherd / Dutch Herder cross-breed pups were born at the base – of which Police Dog Ice (pic below) still patrols the region’s streets – but Bart is the first full Herder introduced to the force.
Breed scheme manager Dave Raymond, added: “More than 80 per cent of the dogs we breed and train in-house go on to be operational dogs…and the scourge of criminals!
“The dogs regularly find hidden items not immediately obvious to officers and which would otherwise take much longer to locate…or not be found at all.
“Our dogs play an important role in catching offenders and keeping the public safe…the breed scheme allows us to plan ahead and ensure we have the right number of dogs ready and able to replace ones who retire."
Four of the other Dutch Herders trained by the force have been sold to other police forces, including Bart’s sister Ziva who’s now with Derbyshire Police, while another has been taken on by the prison service.
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Stolen army badges returned to SAS hero’s family
Army badges stolen from the late John McAleese – the ex-SAS soldier hailed a hero for his role ending the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege in London – have been returned to his family after being recovered by West Midlands Police.
The SAS and Parachute Regiment cap badges – stolen from Mr McAleese’s Hereford home during a burglary – were found by officers back in 2010 hidden in the boot of a drug dealer’s car.
But before PC Alan Reeves – the man who led the Erdington drug crime crackdown – could reunite him with his army insignia the 62-year-old tragically suffered a fatal heart attack while on holiday in Greece.
Alan made repeated attempts to contact his next of kin without success – including enquiries through the SAS base in Hereford – until a former army colleague responded to a Facebook message last year and put him in touch with one of Mr McAleese’s daughters.
And on Friday (April 8) PC Reeves ‘repatriated’ the badges to his former wife Joanna and 19-year-old son Kieran (pictured with PC Reeves) during a presentation at Sutton Coldfield police station.
“John was a colourful, larger than life character,” said PC Reeves, “and these cap badges for the two regiments he served represent a significant part of our country’s history, let alone being of sentimental value to the family.
“The drug dealer we arrested denied all knowledge of the burglary when we found them in his car so they were booked into a police property store – and when Mr McAleese died that’s where they stayed despite my best efforts to find a next of kin.
“Thankfully one of my messages reached an old army colleague of Mr McAleese’s and he gave me the family's contact details down in South Wales. I’m delighted we’ve finally been able to give them back to the family.”
John McAleese, who guarded three Prime Ministers during a distinguished career, became a national hero in 1980 after blasting open a window so his elite unit could storm the Iranian Embassy building in West London.
Five terrorist gunmen were killed during the 17-minute raid – which Margaret Thatcher said made her 'proud to be British' – and all 26 hostages were saved as millions watched the dramatic scenes on television.
Joanna, said: “We’re delighted to finally have the badges back…I know it’s been a bit of a mission of Alan’s to return them and we’re extremely grateful for his time and effort.
“It’s personal, sentimental items like these that people miss the most after a burglary: the badges were very dear to John’s heart and he was gutted to find they’d been taken.
“They will be returned pride of place in a glass display cabinet alongside other memorabilia from John’s time in the SAS.”
The cap badges were discovered on 25 May 2010 following the arrest of a drug dealer in Eagle Gardens, Erdington, where several wraps of heroin and crack cocaine were found hidden inside a 30-year-old man’s boxer shorts. He was later jailed for four years.
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Thief jailed for six years after Minnie Mouse gloves link him to robbery
A thief who was linked to a robbery at a shop in Dudley by his Minnie Mouse gloves, severe limp and distinctive tattoo has been jailed for six years at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Shane Hadlington was wearing a motorcycle helmet when he walked into the One Stop Shop on Bourne Street, Roseville on 15 August last year.
The 27-year-old was with another man, who has never been identified, when they threatened staff with a metal bar and stole £3,700 worth of spirits and cigarettes.
When detectives reviewed CCTV footage they noticed one of the masked robbers walked with a distinctive limp, had a tattoo of the word ‘DAD’ on his right wrist and was wearing a pair of Minnie Mouse gloves.
It emerged that just four days prior to the robbery a police officer had seen Hadlington in a wheelchair and he told them he had fallen off his motorbike.
Subsequent enquiries on Facebook showed he also had a ‘DAD’ tattoo on his wrist, identical to that of the offender from the One Stop Shop.
When Hadlington became a named suspect in August 2015 detectives raided his last known address in the Lower Gornal area of Dudley but he wasn’t there.
During a search they found the incriminating Minnie Mouse gloves, a two tone duvet similar to that used as a swag bag in the robbery and tracksuit bottoms identical to those worn by one of the offenders.
When the search for Hadlington went cold, his photograph was published on the West Midlands Police website as ‘wanted’ and circulated across social media.
In October 2015 he was finally arrested at a café in Kingswinford after being spotted by a Police Community Support Officer who was on routine patrol.
He was later charged with robbery.
He denied the offence but at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday (8 April) was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to six years in prison.
Sergeant Sean Corrigan, from Dudley Police, said: “This was a terrifying robbery for the staff involved and I’m glad we were able to track down one of the main offenders and secure this lengthy jail term at court.
“After starting with just the limp, we soon racked up a whole package of overwhelming evidence against Hadlington including the tattoo, the duvet and the tracksuit bottoms, with Minnie Mouse being his ultimate downfall.
“By that point we’d pretty much built the whole case and then it was simply a matter of trying to find him. Thanks to an observant PCSO on the ground it didn’t take very long and we’ve now been able to take a dangerous offender off the streets.”
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Investigation launched after man stabbed in Weoley Castle
Police have launched an investigation after a man was stabbed in Weoley Castle last night (Thursday 29 September).
The man was attacked as he got out of his car in Barnes Hill outside Asda just after 8pm by another man who then fled the scene with an accomplice. The inquiry is at an early stage but it is believed to be a targeted attack with no risk to the wider public.
The 25-year-old was taken to hospital with a stomach injury and his condition is described as stable.
The area was cordoned off overnight for forensic examination and detectives are now appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Detective Inspector Richard Marsh, from Force CID, said: “This is a fast moving investigation and we have a number of lines of enquiry which we are following up, but I would still like to hear from anyone who has information and has not yet spoken to an officer.
“Fortunately the young man’s injuries are not life threatening, but this could have been a very different outcome.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Armed robbers arrested in Wordsley One Stop raid
Two men are in police custody after an armed robbery in Wordsley last night (Thursday 29 September).
The masked men burst into One Stop on Swan Lane just before 10pm and, while one kept watch at the door, the other brandished a large kitchen knife and demanded cash and vodka. They fled on foot with £80 and two bottles.
Quicktime CCTV enquiries identified one of the offenders who had been in the store some days before wearing the same clothing. He was arrested from his home address less than an hour later.
The second offender was identified from a tattoo on his hand and, in the early hours of this morning, officers arrested him from his home address after a short footchase as he tried to escape wearing just his boxer shorts!
The two bottles of vodka and clothing matching that seen in the CCTV were also recovered from the address. The local men, both aged 22, will be questioned later today.
Chief Inspector Gill Davenport, from Dudley Police, said: "We conducted a speedy investigation with the help of staff at the shop, including a first arrest for one of our new student officers."
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Man appears in court charged with the murder of Coventry man
A man has appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court today (30 September) charged with the murder of another man who was found dead in Edmund Road, Coventry on Monday night (26 September).
Harjinder Singh Dhillon, 43, of Hayes Lane, Exhall, was remanded in custody to appear at a further hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday 3 October.
The victim, who has been named as 48-year-old Rajinder Gill from Coventry, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another man who was arrested in connection with the murder has been released without charge.
A post mortem was carried out earlier this week and further tests are on-going to establish the cause of death
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100-wrap drug stash found in dawn raid
A man has been arrested during a dawn raid after officers uncovered a stash of suspected heroin and crack cocaine in the kitchen of a Coventry flat.
West Midlands Police officers descended on the address in Sherbourne Street at 5.30am this morning (30 Sept) after receiving intelligence it was being used as a drugs den.
Specialist search officers found around 100 dealer wraps, a large quantity of cash, and a stun gun concealed behind lagging in a boiler cupboard.
An 18-year-old Afghan man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply and possessing a firearm.
He will also be questioned by detectives on suspicion of burglary at an address in Max Road, in the Bablake area of Coventry, on 13 September.
Coventry Police Chief Inspector Warren Little, said: “This is a very significant drugs haul – it will be sent away for forensics analysis but it’s believed to be heroin and crack cocaine.
“The raid was executed on the back of community intelligence suggesting the flat was being used to deal drugs.
“In the last year we’ve really ramped up our efforts to combat organised crime in Coventry through Operation Blue Steel. Information from the public is crucial in our fight against drug dealing and associated crime; we take information seriously and, as this warrant shows, will take positive action to address concerns.
“Drugs cause untold misery in communities and people should not accept drug dealing on their doorstep. I’d urge anyone who has suspicions about crime in their area to contact us on the 101 number or via Crimestoppers.”
The independent charity Crimestoppers can be reached on 0800 555111.
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JAILED: Convicted £2m tax dodging businessman hit with decade behind bars
A man who built a Buckingham Palace style mansion by dodging taxes has been jailed for a decade after he failed to pay back the whopping £2 million he owed to the public coffers.
Mohammed Suleman Khan (pictured) was handed a four year sentence in April 2014 after West Midlands Police discovered he had cheated the taxman to the tune of around £450,000.
In addition to the jail sentence Khan was ordered to pay back the cash by 10 October 2015 or face an additional default sentence of 10 years in prison.
When Khan failed to meet the deadline, detectives from the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) and specialist prosecutors from the Crown Prosecution Service's Proceeds of Crime unit (CPSPOC) brought the 43-year-old back before the court.
And on Thursday (5 February) magistrates in Birmingham imposed the 10 years default sentence.
Khan was also found to still be liable for the £2,209,090.00, which is growing by a staggering £484.18 a day in interest.
Efforts are now underway to seize the assets of the ‘businessman’ which, when sold, will see the cash ploughed back into crime fighting.
Detective Inspector Jonathan Jones, from the ROCU, said; “The court’s findings have proved to be a punishing blow for Khan who has been found to have deliberately swerved tax and national insurance payments.
“Every other hard working person has to pay these bills which fund essential services like the NHS. For some reason Khan though he was above the laws which bind us all.”
The case dates back to 2011 when Khan was arrested from his gated Edgbaston residency on suspicion of money laundering.
The lengthy police probe - sparked by the concerns of local people - found evidence of tax and national insurance evasion.
Detectives from Force CID worked with HM Revenue and Customs officials to look into the finances of the Birmingham born debt collector and businessman who claimed to have an annual income of no more than £40,000.
But despite finding 13 paper wraps banks use to secure £1,000 bundles all bearing the same date stamp, and after scrutinising phone and computer records, there were limited financial records leading investigators to believe that Khan only used cash and had few assets.
Determined to uncover the truth, detectives worked with the social policy research charity, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, to compare cost of living fees with his lifestyle and established that to maintain his lavish standard of living would require earnings in excess of £1 million over the nine year period between 2001 and 2012.
The inquiry also uncovered plans for a house the size of Buckingham Palace in Ghorghusti in the Attok region of Pakistan (pictured).
The blueprints showed the mansion which boasted its own cinema, library, servants’ quarters and even a guard house for a private security team.
Experts estimated that construction would have cost £2.3 million although there was no official record of ownership.
Talking about their bid to return the cash to public finances, James Francis, from Crown Prosecution Service's Proceeds of Crime unit, said: “Just over one year ago CPSPOC and ROCU formed a unique team, placing specialists side by side to work on complex asset recovery cases with the aim to see justice done quickly and efficiently by reducing cost and sharing information.
“The results have been phenomenal so far and whilst Mr Khan has failed to pay his sum, the activation of the default sentence is just the start of a process designed to strip him of his criminal gains.
“This success should serve as a warning to others. We’ll make sure crime doesn’t pay. We will pursue so-called ‘crime lords’ and take back their ill-gotten gains for the benefit of local people.”
For more information on the Regional Organised Crime Unit and how Midlands police forces, the CPS and others are taking down some of region’s major criminals visit: www.wmrocu.org.uk
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Memory man is put to the test as he closes in on 1,000 crime suspects!
An eagle-eyed officer is living up to his title as the ‘memory man’ of West Midlands Police - after spotting more than 850 crime suspects in the last four years.
PCSO Andy Pope has a remarkable ability to recognise faces of some of the region’s most wanted people - picking out some years after they were first sought.
The West Midlands Police officer - who patrols the region’s transport hubs as part of the Safer Travel Partnership - has built up a reputation for remembering faces from CCTV footage, stills and police briefings.
The 38-year-old’s successes include spotting a robber from an image seen a year before, managing to pick out a wanted man in a restaurant while waiting at traffic lights on the other side of the road, and identifying someone from a mole on their face!
His identification skills have led to the arrest and conviction of suspects wanted for offences including theft and sexual assault.
So in a test of his unique talent - which has seen just over 850 suspects identified on the streets and public transport in Birmingham - we recently set one of his toughest challenges to date.
He was given just a matter of minutes to study the images of five volunteers he’d not seen before, then try and pick out three who were milling around one of the busiest areas of Birmingham City Centre.
To make the challenge even harder it was carried out in the High Street during a sunny, peak lunchtime period and one of the volunteer targets had altered his appearance from the image and gone clean-shaven.
To see Andy in action and how he did in the challenge view this video here:
Andy said: “It is hard to explain exactly how I remember so many faces.
"I spend time before I start a shift looking at some of the latest wanted faces and they just seem to stick in my mind.
“I feel a great sense of pride and satisfaction if I manage to remember a suspect from an image who is then arrested. Hopefully there will be many more to come in future."
Andy - who is part of the Safer Travel Partnership which has seen West Midlands Police work alongside British Transport Police and transport operators to cut crime on buses, trains and trams by 70 per cent in eight years - added: “This was a tough challenge I was set; right in the middle of Birmingham at the busiest time.
"It has helped to keep my mind sharp ahead of hunting the real criminals."
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Investigation launched after elderly man robbed at knifepoint
Detectives have launched an investigation after a robbery at an elderly man’s Netherton home on Wednesday night (28 September) when he was threatened with a knife on his doorstep.
A man knocked on the 70-year-old’s door in St Peters Road and pleaded for cash to take his dog to the vets − but when the sob story failed the unwanted caller pulled out a knife and pushed it under the man’s chin.
He suffered a two-inch cut − an injury that required hospital treatment − as he was shoved backwards into the hallway and threatened to hand over money.
The heartless thief went on to steal a wallet containing £115 in notes and £8 in loose change from the kitchen.
The suspect has been described as white or Asian, 30-35 years old, about 5ft 10ins tall of medium build. He has short black scruffy hair and was unshaven with a black scruffy beard. He spoke with a northern accent, possibly from the Newcastle area. He was wearing a dark blue quilted jacket and a black or navy trousers.
Detective Constable Simon Willmott said: "Thankfully the injury sustained by the victim was not serious but it was a terrifying ordeal for the victim who has been left shaken by what happened.
“I would appeal to anyone who was in or around the area on the evening of Wednesday 28 September and saw anything suspicious. I am also eager for anyone who thinks they know the identity of the suspect to come forward."
Police are following up numerous lines of enquiries, including forensics, speaking to witnesses and a CCTV trawl of the area.
Anyone with information should contact DC Willmott on 101 or email contactus@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Appeal for witnesses after teenager injured in Birmingham hit and run
Police are appealing for information after a teenager was injured following a hit-and-run in Birmingham.
The 17-year-old suffered a dislocated shoulder and a head wound after being struck by a Ford Fiesta on Wordsworth Road, Small Heath, at around 7.25pm on Sunday 25 September.
The red Fiesta - registration number YC52 FOU - had earlier failed to stop for police officers in Charles Road.
Following the collision, two men fled the scene on foot along Waverley Road in the direction of Golden Hillock Road.
The male victim - who was carried several metres on the front of the Fiesta - has been receiving hospital treatment for his injuries.
Sergeant Lee Froggatt, from Stechford police station, said: "Fortunately the pedestrian is well on the way to making a full recovery; however he could have sustained more serious injuries.
"I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information about the vehicle’s movements before the collision, to contact me."
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Couple convicted for dealing drugs from their Birmingham flat
A drug dealer has been jailed for possession of a sawn off shotgun and drug offences after officers raided his flat in Birmingham.
Mohammed Makmahi, 23, and his partner Eltaf Mockbil, 22, were arrested on 25 July following a raid on their Newtown flat where officers found a sawn off shotgun and a bag of cannabis.
The modified gun had been concealed in a pushchair box in the kitchen, cartridges were also found in the box hidden in a sock.
As officers searched the address, Mockbil threw a plastic bag out of the window in an attempt to get rid of it. The bag was found to contain a mix of full and empty deal bags, with 30 of the bags containing cannabis.
A large amount of cash was also recovered.
At Birmingham Crown court last week (Monday 26 September), Makmahi was jailed for eight years and three months for possessing a shortened sawn off shotgun and possession with intent to supply class B drugs.
Mockbil received a two year community order and ordered to do 80 hours unpaid voluntary work after being found guilty of possession with intent to supply class B drugs.
Detective Sergeant Sally Olsen, from Force CID, said: “We take all investigations involving firearms extremely seriously and anyone found in possession of a gun or any other dangerous weapon can expect to be convicted and sent to prison.”
Anyone with information about drug use in their area can contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Man fatally injured on Lawley Middleway identified
A man who was fatally injured in a non-stop collision in Birmingham has been identified as Paul Donaldson.
The 42-year-old, from Chelmsley Wood, was injured in the early hours of Sunday (25 September) on Lawley Middleway between Ashted Circus and Curzon Circle around 2.30am.
An appeal was launched to identify the man who was taken to hospital, but sadly died as a result of his injuries later the same day.
A 29-year-old man, the driver of a Vauxhall Vectra, arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop remains on police bail while the investigation continues. The driver of a Fiat Panda, a 78-year-old man, arrested at the scene for drink driving also remains on bail.
Officers from the regional Collision Investigation Unit continue to appeal for witnesses to call them on 101 to help them establish the circumstances of the collision.
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