POLICE APPEAL FOLLOWING SERIOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT

A WOMAN was subjected to a “horrific” sexual assault after her attacker took her into a property in Coventry.

The incident occurred at an address in Trentham Road in the early hours of Saturday October 24.

The offender, who is described as a white man who spoke very little English, was wearing black tracksuit bottoms and a stripy grey hooded top. He attacked the 28-year-old woman between midnight and 3am.

Police have launched an appeal for any witnesses to come forward.

Officers would particularly like to hear from a taxi driver who is believed to have picked up the offender from Harnell Lane East before dropping him at his address, near to where the crime took place.

Detective Constable Zoe Askew from CID at Little Park Street police station, said: “This was a horrific incident where the victim was subjected to serious sexual assault.

“We believe the male offender had been dropped off at his address in a new style black cab. It is also believed the driver of the taxi was Asian and may have witnessed the offender and victim together close to the address where the crime took place. The offender got into the taxi at Harnell Lane East.

“We would urge this driver to come forward as he may hold vital information to assist with the inquiry.”

Any witnesses or anyone with information is urged to call police on 0845 113 5000 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

WARDEN CUTS "TO BLAME FOR CRIME"

CRIME and anti-social behaviour has shot up in the city centre since the council scrapped its wardens team, a crime reduction boss claims.

Conservative councillors pushed through changes to neighbourhood warden patrols citywide, which included losing the five city centre wardens in January.

Since the changes from early this year Trevor Pepper, crime reductions operations manager for city centre management company CV One, says that there has been a rise in anti-social behaviour since the wardens were taken off the streets.

He said: “There has been an increase in anti-social behaviour overall in the city centre since the loss of the city centre warden team.

“CV One does not have the staff to deal with these types of issues. A lot could be done with four wardens dedicated to the city centre/ Gosford Street area, addressing these issues and turning round the increase in anti social behaviour in these areas.”

Labour councillor Jim O’Boyle, whose St Michael’s ward includes the city centre, said Lady Herbert’s Garden had become another problem area, where, over 12 months, CV One recorded 105 complaints and police received 35 calls about litter, people drinking and sleeping rough in the garden, noise, verbal abuse, and couples having sex in public.

Cllr O’Boyle said “I warned this would happen. This decision has stretched police and CV One resources leaving problem people and problem areas in the centre unchallenged.

“This proves CV One does not have the staff to cover the work the wardens did previously.”

The re-organisation of warden patrols citywide meant reducing the team from 75 to 56 and produced £173,000 savings.

Councillor Andrew Williams, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and community services, has said that anti-social behaviour is a police matter and not one for wardens.

He said: “Wardens from Hillfields walk through the Lady Herbert gardens so there is representation.

“But the anti-social behaviour is a police matter.

“CV One said their ambassadors can’t deal with anti-social behaviour - well it’s the same situation for wardens.

“To say there has been an increase in activities because wardens have been removed is not correct.”

A newly trained team of eight neighbourhood impact officers, which should be implemented next month, would be responsible for covering the whole city.

They will be drafted into the city centre at peak times on Saturdays backed up by police community support officers.

GRADE II STATUS OF COVENTRY MARKET MIGHT BE INACCURATE

COVENTRY Market’s controversial Grade II listing is to be reviewed after “factual inaccuracies” were found in English Heritage’s case.

The listing, rubber-stamped by the government, will now be examined again by English Heritage, then by a panel of independent experts.

Coventry market traders had formally appealed against the listing of the building, which celebrated its 50th birthday last year, as a national monument of historic and architectural importance.

If the current status remains then it threatens to scupper huge rebuilding plans for the south half of the city centre under the city council and US architect Jerde’s £1bn vision.

But the Coventry market traders association, whose members are keen to move to a new circular market building nearby, spotted errors in English Heritage’s report on aspects of the building’s history and architecture.

English Heritage has now written back to Coventry North west Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson, who backed the traders, to confirm a review had highlighted “factual inaccuracies” in English Heritage’s report to the Government.

The letter does not specify what those errors were and Coventry market traders are still waiting to hear if their appeal will be upheld.

But English Heritage’s letter, seen by the Times, said: “A review has been received by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and they will ask us to consider its claims carefully.

“Some factual inaccuracies have indeed been identified, and some challenges made to our claims to assessment.

“We will address these with the greatest care, and will seek external validation for our conclusion by referring the case to our advisory committee, made up of external experts.”

Councillor Gary Ridley, cabinet member for city development, said: “We were disappointed with the decision the make the market a listed building and that it went against the wish of the traders.

“The building is not fit for purpose and Coventry Market will be moving. It would be a shame to see the building stay if it cannot be used for anything else because of its state.

“The Jerde plan will go ahead, even if it means working around the market site, but we hope the status will be reconsidered.”

If the listing is upheld, Coventry City Council hopes to persuade the government and English Heritage the building is run-down and is no longer viable in any capacity, so should be demolished despite the listing.

TIMELY CO-OPERATION

THE Coventry Watch Museum has opened its doors to the public after receiving £2,000 from the Heart of England Co-op.

Given in two donations of £1,000, some money was used to secure the site in Spon Street, where the museum is set up, while the rest helped towards providing facilities for the disabled.

Paul Shufflebotham, chairman of the Watch Museum project, said: “The Heart of England Co-operative Society are fantastic.

“Their help has given us the funding and support we need.”

And to help repay the favour the museum has started to restore the large clock at the Society’s Corporation Street store.

Paul added: “It was in a real mess, but it is almost finished now and we will have it back to them in no time.”

The money comes from an appeal set up by the society nine years ago called Helping Hearts.

The appeal has raised £500,000 since it started from profits made on tobacco sales to help local charities.

Ali Kurji, chief executive of the society, said: “The very foundations of this society are built on our pride as an ethical retailer.

“We hope our profits help to improve the lives and quality of life of our customers and members, their children and their communities.”

NINTH 2-TONE PLAQUE TO BE UNVEILED

THE old Heath Hotel will be the ninth location where a plaque will be unveiled to celebrate the city’s 2-Tone musical history.

The venue, in Foleshill Road, which is currently the Wonder Years Day Nursery, will see The Specials original drummer Silverton Hutchinson unveil the plaque.

The event takes place on Friday (tomorrow) November 6, at 3pm.

It was an historic venue for The Specials, as it was the very first place the band, known as the Automatics, ever played in 1977.

They were supported by punk bands Urban Blight, Certified, The Wild Boys and Squad.

In his diary of the time, Jerry Dammers, said of the venue: “The organ wouldn’t fit on the stage, so I played in the audience, facing the band”.

From 8pm the General Wolfe pub will host a celebration night, featuring DJ Cardboard, Coventry band The Tones and Dub.Jam.Force, plus some other guests.

For more information go to www.2-toneat30.info.

COV COPS TO GET 24 HOUR ACCESS TO TASERS

A NUMBER of police officers in Coventry will now have 24-hour access to Taser guns.

Officers in the West Midlands Police Force’s Operations Support Unit (OSU) were issued with the equipment at the start of October.

Until now only firearm officers have been able to use Tasers, but since Monday November 2, some PCs have been introduced to them.

Firearms officers have used the equipment 93 times in the West Midlands since 2004, with increased safety and compliance from offenders reported by officers.

Now the taser is to be issued to specially trained PCs in the city for use in strictly-controlled situations.

The taser uses an electrical current to temporarily disrupt the control of a suspect’s muscles, allowing police to make an arrest.

But the force reports that in nearly half of the cases the presence of the taser was enough to deter a violent offender from becoming more aggressive.

It is now widely regarded as a ‘reduced risk’ alternative to the metal batons and CS sprays used by officers.

Officers with the OSU have drawn the equipment twice since being issued with it at the start of last month, but have not fired it.

Chief Supt Steve Glover, Coventry police commander, said: “I anticipate the use of the taser being minimal but it will be a valuable addition to our options.

“Just the production of a taser has been enough on both occasions the OSU have deployed it to stop a situation developing.

“My officers have undergone extensive training in how and when to use the taser and their supervisors have also been trained in which situations it should be issued under.”

DRUGS SMUGGLER GETS 10.5 YEARS IN PRISON

A COVENTRY man has been jailed for 10-and-a-half-years for his role in a plot to smuggle cocaine worth £300,000 into the country.

Lee Wilson, of Elsmore Close, Ernesford Grange, was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine and possession of cannabis.

The 6kg of the Class A drug was flown from the Dominican Republic, hidden in a shipment of books.

The 38-year-old was one of a five-strong gang convicted for their parts in the plot, uncovered by West Midlands Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit.

During a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday October 30, the five were jailed for a combined total of 48 years.

Paul Price, aged 39, from Staffordshire, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply and conspiracy to import cocaine, he received a sentence of 10 years-and-nine-months.

Kwong On Man, aged 50, from Sunbury-on-Thames, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply and conspiracy to import cocaine and was jailed for 12 years.

Cecilia Ci Ci Ying, aged 28, from Ashford, was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine, for which she got a 10-year sentence.

And Richard Williams, aged 45 from Aldridge, was found guilty of two counts of money laundering. He was also found guilty in a separate trial for smuggling more than 2.2 million counterfeit cigarettes. He received a total sentence of five years.

The West Midlands Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit was set up in 2008.