Latest news with #Smethwick
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The estate on Birmingham's doorstep with a European name and no one knows why
Take a trip three miles west of Birmingham and you'll find a little estate with a peculiar name. Residents may consider the estate to fall within the margins of the city, but it is actually based just outside the border in Sandwell. French Walls is located just off the A457 Grove Lane, a key gateway between Smethwick, the town where it is located in, and Birmingham. READ MORE: I visited Midlands village that's lovely in the day but 'changes after 6pm' Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join The estate is a bustling residential area, made up of high-rise blocks, low-rise apartments and houses. Nearby is the huge, orange-and-grey, new super hospital called the Midland Met which opened in October last year at a cost of £988m. At the bottom of the road is a small industrial estate, where a £900k cannabis farm was busted in June 2023. And just beyond that, there's the Birmingham Canal and the train tracks for the West Coast Main Line, running parallel to each other, with the nearest station, Smethwick Rolfe Street, situated just under a mile away. It's fair to say the origins of the names of many villages, towns and cities in our region can be traced back through the ages - but for French Walls, that's not the case. For example, Smethwick was recorded in the 1086AD Domesday Book as being 'Smedeuuich' and it's thought the name either meant 'smith's place of work' or 'settlement on smooth land'. While Birmingham's name is thought to have originally meant the home (ham) of the tribe (ing) of a leader who was either called Birm or Beorma. In the case of French Walls, you'd be forgiven for thinking there was a French connection - for example, a wall was built using French stone or by a Frenchman. But just how and why the estate earned its name remains unclear. According to historians, the earliest reference to a place being called French Walls was made in around the year 1660, which referred to an estate in Smethwick called The French Walls. An old black and white drawing, from a bygone era, depicted the settlement featuring three houses near a pool. Renowned historian Carl Chinn MBE says the earliest reference he's found to French Walls is of a corn mill in 1810. According to the estate went up for auction in 1815 as 'French Walls Flour Mill'. It was listed as being on the banks of the Birmingham Canal, comprising of 20 dwellings in total. Part of the auction was made up of three houses, which were referred to as outbuildings belonging to French Walls Farm. Today, the area looks much different, and you'll struggle to find any reference to French Walls on a street sign. Its name appears on Google Maps as a relic of the forgotten past. But you can still find it remembered in French Walls Way, a small residential road veering off the A457 Grove Lane into the estate.
The Sun
05-07-2025
- The Sun
Moment ‘cowardly' driver runs away after smashing stolen Porsche into family's car & killing boy, 2, in hit-and-run
SHOCKING footage shows the moment a "callous and cowardly" speeding driver ran away after killing a two-year-old boy in a hit and run. Sharjeel Shahzad was jailed for more than 15 years after he crashed a stolen Porsche Cayenne into a family's car in Smethwick, West Midlands, just before 11pm on December 14 last year. 3 3 3 Shahzad already been banned from getting behind the wheel and was awaiting a court date for dangerous driving when he caused the death of a toddler and left his mum in a coma. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the 30-year-old, of Cooksey Lane, Great Barr, West Midlands, had been driving at speeds of up to 50mph. He then overtook a vehicle on approach to a sweeping blind bend on Dartmouth Road and lost control of the powerful high-powered Porsche, which had false plates. Sickening footage shows the reckless driver veering onto the opposite side of the road, into a Toyota Auris being driven by Baljeet Singh. Cowardly Shahzad is seen moments later fleeing his vehicle without a second thought for the victims he left behind. The criminal was caught on camera running without looking back as other shocked motorists came to a halt following the horror smash. Baljeet, who was driving the other car, had been out celebrating a family birthday with his wife and friends that evening. Also in the car were Amritpal Singh, Kushpreet Kaur and their two-year-old son Shehbaz Singh. Shehbaz, who was unrestrained in the back of the Toyota, was pronounced dead, despite efforts to save him at the scene and at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Ms Kaur suffered severe injuries to her brain and is still in hospital. She has not been told her son has died. The court also heard Shahzad had been due to face court on December 23 in connection with a 19-minute, 30-mile pursuit he led police on in a stolen Audi on June 10. Shock moment drunk Fiat 500 driver smashes into car and flips over during dangerous overtake on quiet residential street Shahzad reached speeds of almost 150mph as he tried to evade officers, heard the court. He was only stopped when police rammed the Audi and he tried to flee the scene but was apprehended. Shahzad had also been arrested for a similar incident the day before on June 9 but this case was not continued. In October 2024, Shahzad was banned from driving for six months, despite only having a provisional driving licence, for driving without due care and attention. Jailing him for 15 years and four months for causing the death by dangerous driving of Shehbaz Singh, Judge Jonathan Gosling said the impact of the fatal collision was "catastrophic". He said: "You destroyed the lives of Amritpal Singh and Kushpreet Kaur and devastated their family and friends. You killed that little boy." The judge said Shahzad's "true character is revealed" by the fact he fled after the fatal collision with no regard for the hurt he had caused. He added: "You are not only a dangerous man, you are callous and cowardly." Shahzad was given sentences of 15 months for dangerous driving on June 10, three years each for two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and four months for driving while disqualified, all of which will run concurrently. While there was no evidence Shahzad was the one who stole the Porsche, by the time of the collision, it had false registration plates on which his fingerprint was found. 'CALLOUS AND COWARDLY' Judge Gosling said Shahzad had "completely disregarded the consequences" of his actions when he fled the scene, adding: "His only interest was to disappear. He was arrested two days later and denied being in the Porsche at the time. "He complained he was being compelled to drive this way by men he feared. No one compelled him to drive like that. "He ran from the car knowing he must, at the very least, have caused very serious injury to those in the Toyota." Defending Shahzad, Nicholas Berry told the court the defendant's life had "spiralled in the most reckless manner" in the lead-up to the collision as his long-term relationship had ended and he had lost work. He had written a letter to the judge expressing his remorse for what happened. He pleaded guilty to the charges he faced at a hearing on April 11. Judge Gosling also made Shahzad, who sat in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit and showed no emotion, subject to a three-year extended licence and banned him from driving for eight years upon his release. He must also take an extended driving test before he is allowed to drive. The judge recognised the efforts of two people who tried to help those in the Toyota and called out to Shahzad to stop as he fled by awarding them £500 each.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Yahoo
Mum remains in coma six months after horror crash that killed her toddler
A mother remains in a coma more than six months after a horror crash which tragically claimed the life of her two-year-old son. Kushpreet Kaur was travelling in a Toyota Auris alongside her son Shehbaz Singh, his father Amritpal Singh and their close friends, Baljeet Singh and Pavanpreet Kaur, when they were struck by disqualified driver Sharjeel Shahzad on December 14 last year. Shahzad, aged 30, was behind the wheel of a stolen Porsche Cayenne and was driving on the wrong side of the road and doing 51mph in a 30mph zone in Dartmouth Road, Smethwick, before a head-on collision occurred just before 11pm that day. READ MORE: Midland motorway crash leaves one dead after 'report of injured person in road' Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join Shahzad, from Great Barr, fled the scene on foot but was arrested two days later after he became the prime suspect and police identified his finger prints on the car and on the false number plate it was displaying - along with his DNA on the airbag. The Porsche had been stolen from nearby Walsall during a sales test. At Shahzad's sentencing today (July 4) at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Jonathan Gosling said: "Tragically, that little boy suffered serious injuries. "Desperate attempts were made to save his life at the scene and the hospital, but he died that same day." The court was told Kushpreet suffered a bleed on the brain, serious skull and facial injuries and a fractured right leg and required emergency treatment. Kushpreet has not recovered sufficiently from her injuries to be told of the death of her son, the court was told While Baljeet, who was driving the Toyota, suffered a "fractured spine", the judge said. Sergeant Paul Hughes from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit at West Midlands Police said: "The mum remains unconscious in hospital to this day." Shahzad initially denied causing death by dangerous driving but changed his plea in April. He also admitted causing death by dangerous driving, two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving with no insurance and failing to stop after a collision. Today (July 4) at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Shahzad was sentenced to 15 years and four months in prison and banned from driving for 18 years and three months. Sgt Hughes from SCIU added: "We have a young child that has been killed on our roads, a family that is suffering, and this is because of a split-second decision and dangerous driving, and that's got to stop. "No sentence is going to bring Shehbaz back, no sentence is going to give that family their lives back. "But that sentence needs to serve a purpose and if that purpose is to bring them a sense of justice, to help them move on, but also to get that message to other people out there, those split-second decisions, this is the result that can happen. "If that makes people take their foot off the accelerator, slow down, or go out and drive sensibly, enjoy their car and enjoy driving, let's get home safely."
The Independent
04-07-2025
- The Independent
‘Cowardly' speeding driver who fled after killing toddler in crash is jailed
A 'callous and cowardly' speeding driver who fled on foot after crashing a stolen Porsche Cayenne into a family's car, killing a two-year-old boy and leaving his mother in a coma, has been jailed for more than 15 years. Sharjeel Shahzad had already been banned from getting behind the wheel and was awaiting a court date for dangerous driving when he caused the death of a toddler in a head-on smash in Smethwick, West Midlands, just before 11pm on December 14 last year. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the 30-year-old, of Cooksey Lane, Great Barr, West Midlands, had been driving at speeds of up to 50mph before he overtook a vehicle on approach to a sweeping blind bend on Dartmouth Road and lost control of the powerful high-powered Porsche, which had false plates. He veered onto the opposite side of the road, into a Toyota Auris being driven by Baljeet Singh, who had been out celebrating a family birthday with his wife and friends that evening. Also in the car were Amritpal Singh, Kushpreet Kaur and their two-year-old son Shehbaz Singh. Shehbaz, who was unrestrained in the back of the Toyota, was pronounced dead, despite efforts to save him at the scene and at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Ms Kaur suffered severe injuries to her brain and is still in hospital. She has not been told her son has died. The court also heard Shahzad had been due to face court on December 23 in connection with a 19-minute, 30-mile pursuit he led police on in a stolen Audi on June 10, when he reached speeds of almost 150mph as he tried to evade officers. He was only stopped when police rammed the Audi and he tried to flee the scene but was apprehended. He had also been arrested for a similar incident the day before on June 9 but this case was not continued. In October 2024, Shahzad was banned from driving for six months, despite only having a provisional driving licence, for driving without due care and attention. Jailing him for 15 years and four months for causing the death by dangerous driving of Shehbaz Singh, Judge Jonathan Gosling said the impact of the fatal collision was 'catastrophic'. He said: 'You destroyed the lives of Amritpal Singh and Kushpreet Kaur and devastated their family and friends. You killed that little boy.' The judge said Shahzad's 'true character is revealed' by the fact he fled after the fatal collision with no regard for the hurt he had caused. He added: 'You are not only a dangerous man, you are callous and cowardly.' Shahzad was given sentences of 15 months for dangerous driving on June 10, three years each for two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and four months for driving while disqualified, all of which will run concurrently. While there was no evidence Shahzad was the one who stole the Porsche, by the time of the collision, it had false registration plates on which his fingerprint was found. Judge Gosling said Shahzad had 'completely disregarded the consequences' of his actions when he fled the scene, adding: 'His only interest was to disappear. He was arrested two days later and denied being in the Porsche at the time. 'He complained he was being compelled to drive this way by men he feared. No one compelled him to drive like that. 'He ran from the car knowing he must, at the very least, have caused very serious injury to those in the Toyota.' Defending Shahzad, Nicholas Berry told the court the defendant's life had 'spiralled in the most reckless manner' in the lead-up to the collision as his long-term relationship had ended and he had lost work. He had written a letter to the judge expressing his remorse for what happened. He pleaded guilty to the charges he faced at a hearing on April 11. Judge Gosling also made Shahzad, who sat in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit and showed no emotion, subject to a three-year extended licence and banned him from driving for eight years upon his release. He must also take an extended driving test before he is allowed to drive. The judge recognised the efforts of two people who tried to help those in the Toyota and called out to Shahzad to stop as he fled by awarding them £500 each.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Appalling moment 'callous' speeding driver in stolen Porsche kills boy, two, and runs away - as his mother remains in coma and still doesn't know her son is dead
A 'callous and cowardly' speeding driver crashed a stolen car head-on into another vehicle, killing a two-year-old boy and leaving the child's mother in a coma before sprinting away on foot. Sharjeel Shahzad, 30, had already been banned from getting behind the wheel and was awaiting a court date for dangerous driving when he caused the death of toddler Shehbaz Singh in the Porsche Cayenne. He also seriously injured two others in the car, and Shehbaz's mother has still not awoken from her coma, meaning she doesn't know her little boy has died. The collision in Smethwick, West Midlands, just before 11pm on December 14 last year was captured on camera and shows how Shahzad lost control of the vehicle while navigating a bend. Within seconds he is seen exiting the vehicle and immediately sprinting off away from the crash, without so much as a glance in the other vehicle's direction. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the 30-year-old, of Cooksey Lane, Great Barr, West Midlands, had been driving at speeds of up to 50mph before he overtook a vehicle on approach to a sweeping blind bend on Dartmouth Road. As he hit the corner he lost control of the high-powered Porsche, which had false plates. He veered onto the opposite side of the road, into a Toyota Auris being driven by Baljeet Singh, who had been out celebrating a family birthday with his wife and Shehbaz's aunt and uncle that evening. Also in the car were Amritpal Singh, Kushpreet Kaur and their two-year-old son Shehbaz Singh. Shehbaz, who was unrestrained in the back of the Toyota, was pronounced dead, despite efforts to save him at the scene and at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Ms Kaur suffered severe injuries to her brain and is still in hospital. She has not been told her son has died. The court also heard Shahzad had been due to face court on December 23 in connection with a 19-minute, 30-mile pursuit he led police on in a stolen Audi on June 10, when he reached speeds of almost 150mph as he tried to evade officers. He was only stopped when police rammed the Audi and he tried to flee the scene but was apprehended. He had also been arrested for a similar incident the day before on June 9 but this case was not continued. In October 2024, Shahzad was banned from driving for six months, despite only having a provisional driving licence, for driving without due care and attention. Jailing him for 15 years and four months for causing the death by dangerous driving of Shehbaz Singh, Judge Jonathan Gosling said the impact of the fatal collision was 'catastrophic'. He said: 'You destroyed the lives of Amritpal Singh and Kushpreet Kaur and devastated their family and friends. You killed that little boy.' The judge said Shahzad's 'true character is revealed' by the fact he fled after the fatal collision with no regard for the hurt he had caused. Within seconds Shahzad is seen exiting the vehicle and immediately sprinting off away from the crash, without so much as a glance in the other vehicle's direction He added: 'You are not only a dangerous man, you are callous and cowardly.' Shahzad was given sentences of 15 months for dangerous driving on June 10, three years each for two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and four months for driving while disqualified, all of which will run concurrently. While there was no evidence Shahzad was the one who stole the Porsche, by the time of the collision, it had false registration plates on which his fingerprint was found. Judge Gosling said Shahzad had 'completely disregarded the consequences' of his actions when he fled the scene, adding: 'His only interest was to disappear. He was arrested two days later and denied being in the Porsche at the time. 'He complained he was being compelled to drive this way by men he feared. No one compelled him to drive like that. 'He ran from the car knowing he must, at the very least, have caused very serious injury to those in the Toyota.' Defending Shahzad, Nicholas Berry told the court the defendant's life had 'spiralled in the most reckless manner' in the lead-up to the collision as his long-term relationship had ended and he had lost work. He had written a letter to the judge expressing his remorse for what happened. He pleaded guilty to the charges he faced at a hearing on April 11. Judge Gosling also made Shahzad, who sat in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit and showed no emotion, subject to a three-year extended licence and banned him from driving for eight years upon his release. He must also take an extended driving test before he is allowed to drive. The judge recognised the efforts of two people who tried to help those in the Toyota and called out to Shahzad to stop as he fled by awarding them £500 each. In a heartbreaking statement on a GoFundMe page to raise money for Shezbah's funeral, Mr Singh's brother wrote: 'My brother and his wife are the nicest people you could meet. 'They've always put others before themselves and are incredibly hardworking and dedicated to making a better life for themselves and their two-year-old son. 'Now, in the blink of an eye, the family has been devastated with the death of two-year-old Shehbaz. 'His mum, Khushpreet, remains in critical care in hospital. She is so ill she doesn't yet know of Shehbaz's death. 'It was just earlier this month we were celebrating Shehbaz's second birthday and now we are having to plan his funeral. 'We don't know if Shehbaz's mum, Khushpreet, will be able to attend the funeral as she is still sedated in critical care and very very ill.' Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes from our serious collision investigation unit, said: 'Shehbaz lost his life at just two years old, due to the erratic and selfish driving of Shahzad. 'Knowing he caused a serious collision, instead of staying to help, Shahzad ran away from the devastation he caused. 'However, thanks to the combination of forensics and CCTV enquires we were able to quickly identify Shahzad as the driver. 'Shahzad will now face many years behind bars, which hopefully provide some sort of closure to Shehbaz's family.'
