WEST MIDLANDS

A man was taken to hospital after a taxi driver and Audi collided.

The crash happened at the junction of Palace Road and Bordesley Green, in Bordesley Green, just after 9.50pm on Thursday.

A man suffered multiple injuries and was taken by paramedics to Heartlands Hospital. His injuries are not said to be serious.

Footage taken from the scene show the silver saloon type taxi with heavy damage to the bonnet and driver’s side.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called to the junction of Palace Road and Bordesley Green to reports of a two-car collision.

“Two ambulances attended. The driver of one of the cars, a man, was treated for multiple injuries and taken to Heartlands Hospital.
“He was the only patient.”

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman confirmed officers were called to the incident and there were no serious injuries.

The fire service sent two crews from Highgate Station.

Hours earlier, a man was taken to hospital after a police van crashed and toppled over on the crossing at the Fox and Goose on Washwood Heath Road, Ward End.

Footage taken from the scene showed the van lying in the middle of road with the bonnet open.
Several other damaged vehicles were at the scene and a crowd had gathered behind the railings.
The incident happened close to Tesco, the shopping centre.

The lights from the Pure Gym at Beaufort Park could be seen in the distance.

A police spokeswoman said: “Police are investigating a collision between a police van and a car last night (27 December) at around 6pm in Washwood Heath Road in Ward End.

“There were minor injuries only and the driver of the car remained at the scene to assist police with their enquiries.”
A spokesman from West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “We were called to reports of a van and car in collision. One ambulance attended. There was one patient - a male- who was taken to Heartlands Hospital.”

The incident sparked long queues as the dual carriageway was closed off for a number of hours while an investigation was underway.
Two appliances from Ward End stations attended.

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LEICESTER

A taxi driver is in hospital after being seriously injured in an attack in the early hours of Christmas Day.

The driver was assaulted at around 1am on the A47, in Houghton on the Hill, outside the Rose and Crown pub.

The 38-year-old victim, who suffered a serious injury to an eye, remains in hospital.
It’s believed a number of people were in the road at the time and may have witnessed the assault.
The suspect has been described as a white man, aged 19 to 20, about 5ft 9ins tall, of skinny build with dark brown hair.

DC Mike Archer, who is investigating the incident, said: “We know there were a number of people out celebrating on Christmas Eve into the early hours of Christmas Day, we are sure the incident was witnessed by those in the area.

“The victim was in his taxi and had just dropped off a fare when he was punched in the face.
“If you witnessed the assault or have any information about the person responsible we would urge you to get in touch.

"Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could help us identify the suspect.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact DC 535 Archer on 101.

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GLASGOW

A TAXI driver caught with £35,000 of cannabis in his car has been jailed for a year.

John Thomson, 48, was snared when police, who had been monitoring him, swooped on his taxi.
They watched him go into a house in Glasgow’s Parkhead, empty handed, and return to his car with a bag.

Thomson, from Dumbarton Road, Yoker, Glasgow, pled guilty at the city’s sheriff court to being concerned in the supply of cannabis on February 14.

Sheriff Norman Ritchie QC jailed him for 12 months for his crime.

The court heard officers had “authorised surveillance” and at around 5.50pm they watched Thomson go in to a house on Canmore Street.
Procurator fiscal depute Lynne Reilly said: “He entered the address empty handed, he was then seen to exit around two minutes later in possession of a large bag.

“He placed the bag in the boot and drove away.”
She said police “kept observations” on Thomson for around 25 minutes, then detained him at an Asda petrol station near Helen Street in Glasgow’s south side.

He was taken to the nearby police office and both he and his car were searched.

Miss Reilly added that six vacuum bags with cannabis were found in the car weighing 4.5kg.
The court heard that if sold wholesale, the drugs were worth around £15,000 but could reach up to £35,000 if split into street deals.

The prosecutor added: “In addition to the cannabis a Betfred slip with names and numbers was found on the passenger seat of the vehicle.”

She said it had the “hallmarks of a tick list”.
Officers also found £985 on Thomson, who was unable to give an explanation for carrying such a large amount of cash.

Miss Reilly said: “As he was within his taxi enquiries were carried out in that regard.”
His last job was around 12.30pm that day and he wasn’t working at the time when carrying out the offence.

Thomson was interviewed and made no comment before being cautioned and charged.
Defence lawyer Peter Malone said Thomson is a dad-of-two and is now unemployed.
Mr Malone added: “He pled guilty on the basis that his role was the courier.”

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