Latest news with #WestMercia
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Police chief, 48, reveals how she 'jumps if the doorbell goes' after 80-year-old man plagued her with stalking ordeal
A Met Police chief has told of her stalking hell at the hands of an 80-year-old man and says she now 'jumps when the doorbell goes'. Assistant Commissioner Pippa Mills said the impact of being harassed by Richard Jackson now gives her 'sleepless nights'. Jackson appeared at Worcester Magistrates' Court on Thursday after he was charged with stalking. Miss Mills, 48, told the court the pensioner first targeted her when she was Chief Constable of West Mercia Police between 2021 and 2023. The court heard Jackson had also loitered outside New Scotland Yard, when she became a Met Assistant Commissioner in 2024. During this time Jackson bombarded her with emails and messages. Colin Le Roux, prosecuting, said: 'He has no reason to email Miss Mills.' 'He has attended New Scotland Yard on two occasions.' The court heard that Jackson was angry with West Mercia Police about an event in 2004, before Miss Mills had joined the force. In a victim impact statement read out in court, Miss Mills said: 'It is literally giving me sleepless nights. 'I dread walking from the station to New Scotland Yard and back in the evening. I'm hyper vigilant. 'This has had a big impact on my lifestyle including me feeling unsafe in my home in case he finds out where I live. 'I jump if the doorbell goes.' Miss Mills said that she considered herself a 'very resilient police officer' but added: 'It feels very personal.' She added: 'I feel it would not be happening in these circumstances to a male colleague.' Chairman of the bench, Tim Hazell, slapped Jackson with a two-year Stalking Protection Order. Under the order, Jackson is banned from attending New Scotland Yard unless he has a pre-arranged appointment and cannot contact Miss Mills. Jackson has previously been handed an anti-social behaviour order for assaulting a neighbour following an 18-year dispute. He also regularly appeared outside courts wearing a placard accusing police of corruption.
BBC News
16 hours ago
- BBC News
Redditch woman jailed for not giving phone password to police
The sister of a speeding driver who killed a woman in a crash is thought to be the first person in the West Mercia Police area to be jailed for refusing to reveal her phone password to officers, the force has Worcester Crown Court, Sanaa Shahzad, 20, of Farndon Close in Redditch, was sentenced for her actions during a police probe into the death of Valerie Ayres, brother Khizer Ali, 24, of the same address, had been driving on the wrong side of the road when the crash happened in April "deliberately obstructed" the inquiry by "refusing us the password to her phone", police said after her three-month term for failure to disclose the key to protected information. The three months are to run concurrently to Shahzad's 12-month sentence for dangerous driving - an offence unrelated to the fatal Redditch crash but recorded on the same was also banned from driving for three years and six months, and ordered to take an extended retest. In May, Ali was jailed for 11 years and three months for causing death by dangerous Ayres was killed instantly and her husband, 70, suffered life-changing injuries in the crash. Det Con Rose Hughes said following Friday's sentencing: "We are pleased to get this sentence for Shahzad who bears some of the responsibility for the outcome of a tragedy where a woman was killed and her husband was caused life-changing injuries too."Shahzad deliberately obstructed our investigation into the fatal crash by refusing us the password to her phone and I am glad this has been recognised by the court with a custodial term." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
20 hours ago
- BBC News
Man arrested after body found near Shrewsbury water tower
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the discovery of a body near a water body of a 29-year-old man was found close to a disused building in the Shelton area of Shrewsbury at about 11:50 Mercia Police said the 26-year-old arrested man was being held in custody for questioning. It was believed he knew the victim."Our communities can expect to see an increased police presence in the area as we carry out our enquiries," Insp Gordon Kaye said. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Police continue search for hand grenades found in Hopwood canal
Officers are continuing to search for five suspected hand grenades found in a Worcestershire canal by a magnet Mercia Police said a man found a total of seven devices in the canal on Lea End Lane in Hopwood on Friday, but left the area with five of them, leaving two on the force is appealing for the man who found the grenades to come forward so they can be "safely recovered".Richard Field, districts inspector for Redditch and Bromsgrove, said it was worrying as the grenades were described as being "quite volatile" and could pose a risk to the public. "Because they're ageing, the safety advice is to ring us on 999 immediately, there will be a cordon placed on and then those items will be made safe by the bomb disposal team," he two grenades that were left on the river bank had since been safely detonated in a controlled explosion, after a 100m cordon was placed around the Field said the force's primary aim was around the safety of the wider explained the grenades were from the "World War Two era and therefore there's a risk to the public if the grenade is not treated or addressed by the army bomb disposal team"."Our theory is that they've either been dumped somewhere, which is obviously quite serious to the public, or they're in someone's garage, shed or house," he man who found the grenades is described as being about 5ft 10, aged in his 50s, with grey hair and wearing green trousers. Insp Field reassured the person who had the grenades that they "would not be in trouble by the police".He told BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester it was "quite common" for hand grenades and other items to be discovered in canals or rivers."Our focus isn't around criminalising this person, they've made an error of judgement in my own personal opinion, we want to recover the items, make them safe to make sure there isn't a wider risk to the public," he added"I'd appeal to that person to come forward," he who sees the man is asked not to approach him and to call 999. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Woman struck by car in city centre fighting for her life in hospital
A 27-year-old woman is fighting for her life in hospital after she was struck by a car in Worcester city centre. The serious collision happened on Deansway at around 5.20pm yesterday, June 21. Police said a car mounted a kerb and collided with the woman who was later rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital with life-threatening injuries. READ MORE: Birmingham family devastated as mum-of-five dies suddenly A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop at the scene. He was also held on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and being unfit to drive. Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp West Mercia Police has launched an investigation into the incident and is calling on potential witnesses to contact the force. A force spokesperson said: "We're appealing for witnesses following a collision between a car and pedestrian on Deansway in Worcester yesterday. Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the BirminghamLive newsletter here "At around 5.20pm, a car mounted the kerb and collided with a 27-year-old woman who was later taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital with life-threatening injuries. "A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop at the scene of an accident, on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and being unfit to drive. "An investigation into the incident is ongoing and we would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has dash cam footage to come forward and help with our enquiries. "Please contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit by emailing sciusouth@
