Thursday, October 27, 2022
SANDWELL & HALESOWEN EDITION
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TV PRIDE AWARD FOR HEROIC PCs
Maninder Hunjan was also cleared of attempted murder charges but was found guilty of wounding Pc Willetts with intent and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Both officers said the attack had harmed their personal lives, with Pc Mittoo stating that it contributed to the breakdown of his relationship with his partner. Giving the brothers extended terms, Judge Michael Chambers QC jailed Parminder Hunjan for 14 years and Maninder Hunjan for 12 years in May.
Report by Lisa O’Brien
Two police officers who were attacked and stabbed by two brothers, but helped protect passers-by are being given a Pride of Britain Award. Viewers will tonight (Thursday) see police officers James Willetts, 25, and Leon Mitoo, 34, receive the This Morning Emergency Services Award. The officers were attacked by brothers Parminder Hunjan, 37, and Maninder Hunjan, 26, on July 21 at New Square Shopping Centre, West Bromwich. Both were injured and left fearing for their lives. This Morning presenter Josie Gibson surprised the pair live on air last week, revealing to them they had won the award. During a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court earlier this year, Pc Mittoo said: “I thought I was going to die. I just did everything I could. It was a fight for survival.” The court heard the brothers were carrying an arsenal of weapons including a ‘Rambo’-style weapon and an imitation gun when they were stopped during an operation aimed to tackle town centre knife crime.
Circled
Josie Gibson with Pcs Mittoo and Willetts. Pic: West Midlands Police Following the trial, the brothers were cleared of trying to kill the officers, but were found guilty of wounding them during the violence. Parminder Hunjan, who the court was told slashed at one of the officers while they deployed pepper
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spray, was found not guilty of attempted murder on account of both police officers – but the jury found him guilty of wounding Pcs Mittoo and Pc Willetts with intent and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
The brothers were stopped by the officers after being spotted dressed in jackets and carrying rucksacks on a hot day. During the trial the jury was told that one of the officers was “circled” as he was attacked after he and his colleague stopped the defendants. The brothers’ address can not be reported for legal reasons. Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo will co-host the award ceremony tonight (Thursday), which will be attended by a plethora of famous faces to celebrate the inspirational winners. It is on ITV at 8pm.
Fireworks at cricket club Halesowen Cricket Club hosts its annual bonfire and fireworks next week. Gates open at 5.30pm on November 4, with the first firework display at 7.15. There will be no on-site car parking and restrictions will be in force on surrounding roads. Alternative off-site car parking will be available at all public car parks just a short walk away from the ground. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18 . Tickets are £10.50 for 16s and over, £6.50 for a child and free for under-threes. A family ticket is £24, available from the club and on Eventbrite.
Trespasser on rail line Rail services were disrupted due to a trespasser on the line. The West Coast Mainline section between Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street was closed off at around 7.18am on Tuesday. Passengers travelling from Coseley, Tipton, Dudley Port, Sandwell and Dudley, Smethwick Galton Bridge and Smethwick Rolfe Street were left to find alternative transport while the incident was investigated. Lines were declared reopened around 8.05am after the line was cleared, although diversions were still expected up to and including 9am.
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