“I’m being chased by the police”: Teenage driver who…

The delivery driver sped off after the van she had been in crashed into a garden wall then ignored police when they signalled for her to pull over A teenager who sent a TEXT to a friend telling them “I’m being chased by the police” while leading cops on an 80mph pursuit has been spared jail. Delivery driver Charlotte Clowes, 19, sped off in a Ford Focus Transit van after it crashed into a garden wall.

Mayor set to enjoy a cuppa for Fairtrade Fortnight

Dudley’s Mayor – will be calling into the Fairtrade Break Coffee Morning at St Thomas’s Church Hall, Market Street, Stourbridge, on Saturday March 11 which is being organised as part of the annual campaign. The coffee morning, running from 10am to 12.30pm, is being organised by Stourbridge Fairtrade, who were instrumental in achieving Fairtrade status for Stourbridge in 2010.

Bot out, Ukip tells Putin, as pro-Russia tweeters attack Paul Nuttall

Ukip has told Vladimir Putin to keep out of the Stoke by-election after typically pro-Russian Twitter accounts turned on party leader Paul Nuttall. The social media profiles have generally posted positive messages about the Kremlin’s bloody intervention in Syria while praising the Russian president, who has been accused of interfering in the US election.

a Patients urged to have say on healthcare in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire

Doctors are calling on patients and local people in northern Staffordshire to sign up to a scheme to ensure they have a voice in the way healthcare services are delivered in the area. Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups – the organisations responsible for buying healthcare services in the area – launched the “Our NHS” membership scheme as part of their continued commitment to putting patients at the front line of decisions about local care.

Mr Nuttall said he had spent three hours speaking to officers with Operation Resolve

The under-fire parliamentary hopeful, who faced the resignation of two senior officials on Monday in protest at the party’s “crass insensitivity” over the tragedy, said he had spent three hours giving a witness statement to Operation Resolve. Mr Nuttall faced a fierce backlash and calls to resign as an MEP after it emerged claims that he lost close personal friends at Hillsborough were false.

PM steps up Brexit Bill pressure as she sits in on peers’ debate

Prime Minister Theresa May sits behind the Speaker, back row, as Baroness Smith of Basildon speaks in the House of Lords The House of Lords will conclude the first stage of a crucial Brexit debate after Theresa May and Boris Johnson ramped up pressure on them not to block or delay Britain’s exit from the European Union. In a highly unusual move on Monday, the Prime Minister sat on the steps in front of the Royal Throne in the Upper Chamber as Lords Leader Baroness Evans of Bowes urged peers not to frustrate the passage of the Brexit Bill.

Two senior Ukip officials quit over party’s ‘insensitivity’ about Hillsborough

The resignations are another blow to Ukip leader Paul Nuttall just days before the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election where he is hoping to oust Labour Stuart Monkcom, the chairman of leader Paul Nuttall’s own branch in Liverpool, and Adam Heatherington, chairman of the Merseyside regional branch, comments made by party figures had been “upsetting and intolerable” for the victims of the families. The announcement is another blow to Mr Nuttall just days before the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election where he is hoping to oust Labour.

Celebrating Creation and Community will take place in Cheddleton this Spring

The ‘Celebrating Creation and Community’ will take place at St Andrew’s Church in Ostlers Lane in Cheddleton, near Leek on Saturday, March 11. The free-to-enter event, which will run from 1.30pm until 4pm, will include a variety of stalls and activities as well as local information displays. Animal Magic Mini Zoo will also make a special appearance to give visitors an opportunity to meet some exotic animals.

Civity UK Express Trains to be Delivered with TSA Motors

TSA was awarded by CAF, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A. in Spain, to design and deliver traction motors for Civity UK, a low floor train solution which was developed for commuter and regional services. The train operator Civity UK will strengthen its service by purchasing 43 Civity electric trains which can reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h.

Paul Nuttall clarified claims attributed to him about the Hillsborough disaster

Ukip leader Paul Nuttall has told a party press officer who took the blame for an inaccurate claim that he lost “close personal friends” in the Hillsborough disaster that she can keep her job. Lynda Roughley offered to resign on Tuesday evening after her boss was forced to admit during a live radio interview that the claim – carried by his official website for six years – was wrong.

Court Files: Round-up of cases in the magistrates courts

Matthew James Fox, 37, of Dewsbury Crescent, Stafford, admitted stealing a digital camera, sander, portable DVD play, Xbox game and acoustic stereo system to the value of A 370 in Stafford between October 19 and December 11, stealing a satellite navigation system in Stafford on October 17. He was given a 12-month community order, A 150 compensation, A 85 victim surcharge and A 145 costs. Corey Davies, 19, of Church Street, Rugeley, admitted stealing fragrances worth A 50 from Boots in Market Square, and stealing fragrances worth A 15 from Sports Direct in Stafford on January 3. He was given a 12-month conditional discharge, told to pay A 20 victim surcharge and A 135 costs.

Court Files: Round-up of cases in the magistrates courts

Matthew James Fox, 37, of Dewsbury Crescent, Stafford, admitted stealing a digital camera, sander, portable DVD play, Xbox game and acoustic stereo system to the value of A 370 in Stafford between October 19 and December 11, stealing a satellite navigation system in Stafford on October 17. He was given a 12-month community order, A 150 compensation, A 85 victim surcharge and A 145 costs. Corey Davies, 19, of Church Street, Rugeley, admitted stealing fragrances worth A 50 from Boots in Market Square, and stealing fragrances worth A 15 from Sports Direct in Stafford on January 3. He was given a 12-month conditional discharge, told to pay A 20 victim surcharge and A 135 costs.

Thursday morning’s traffic and travel

Roads are looking generally clear this Thursday morning with just a few minor incidents to look out for across the Black Country and North Worcestershire, including: Water main work and temporary traffic lights on A442 Franche Road in Kidderminster at the Woodland Avenue junction, so expect delays. Some delays again on A451 Stourbridge Road in Kidderminster at the Springfield Lane junction due to gas main work and temporary traffic lights.

Before the courts

Alexander Colin McDonald, aged 28, of Gibbs Road, Lye, was given a seven month community order for entering the Chequers Inn, Stourbridge, as a trespasser on September 27, 2016, and stealing cash of a value unknown. He was also sentenced for entering Customark, Dudley, as a trespasser on November 13, 2016, with intent to steal and driving without insurance in Lye on January 2. He was given six penalty points and must pay compensation of A 500, a victim surcharge of A 85, A 185 court costs and a A 100 fine.

Lions hope sleigh outings beat previous festive fundraising efforts

KINGSWINFORD and Stourbridge Lions hope to beat previous festive fundraising efforts with this year’s Christmas sleigh outings with a brand new Santa mobile. The charitable group has been treated to an all-new sleigh this time – thanks to sponsorship from a number of local businesses and organisations including NatWest Bank, West Bromwich Building Society, Asda, Stourbridge Motor House, Imperial Commercials, Crown Butchers.