Criminal cases that the Crown Prosecution Service take to court are in the news every day. This section also covers many issues related to our work, including violence against women and girls, hate crime, support for victims and witnesses, statistics, and speeches by the Director of Public Prosecutions and other senior staff.
Latest news
You can find our latest news stories here and search for older stories. You can also find more information about high-profile cases and the work of the CPS.
Working with the media
To make criminal court reporting more open, the CPS, police, and media representatives created a joint protocol (agreement) for working together. We are currently working on an updated version of the protocol.
Showing 21 - 30 of 88 results for area "West Midlands"
In May 2025, the CPS West Midlands Magistrates’ and Crown court units successfully prosecuted various hate crime cases. Below are some of the cases.On 24 September 2024, the 35-year-old defendant from Birmingham directed racial and homophobic abuse towards two police officers. He was subsequently…
During February to April 2025, the CPS West Midlands Magistrates’ and Crown court units successfully prosecuted various hate crime cases. Below are some of the cases.On 19 September 2024, the 47-year-old defendant from Wokingham, racially abused a member of staff at Reading Railway Station after…
Victims of rape and serious sexual assaults who face their cases being dropped by prosecutors will, for the first time, be given the right to have their case reviewed by a different prosecutor before any final decisions are made.Criminal cases can be stopped at any point if a prosecutor decides…
Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Division, said: “Following a review of the evidence provided by West Midlands Police, we have authorised criminal charges in relation to the death of a 14-month-old child at a nursery in Dudley. “Noah Sibanda died…
A teenager has been convicted of murder after stabbing a 13-year-old boy to death in a house in Sandwell.The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of murdering Jahziah Coke at Wolverhampton Crown Court today (4 April 2025) following a trial that lasted four weeks.A man in his…
This press release was originally published on 6 March 2025.Update: On 4 April 2025 Joanne Sharkey was given a two-year suspended prison sentence suspended for two years at Liverpool Crown Court after previously admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility. A woman has admitted killing…
In January 2025, the CPS West Midlands Magistrates’ and Crown Court units successfully prosecuted various hate crime cases. Some of these are below.On 15 August 2024, the 55-year-old defendant, from Norwich, racially abused a taxi driver outside Norwich railway station over the price of the fare…
A 25 -year-old woman has been jailed after pleading guilty to child sex offences.Nichole Pratt, of Foster Crescent, Leominster was sentenced today (4 March 2025) at Hereford Crown Court to seven-and-a-half years in custody for causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and…
In December 2024, the CPS West Midlands Magistrates’ and Crown court units successfully prosecuted various hate crime cases. Below are some of the cases.On 5 July 2024, the 21-year-old defendant from Neath Port Talbot directed homophobic abuse towards a police officer who was attempting to arrest…
A man has been sentenced to 29 years in prison for sexual offences against five complainants including three children.Christopher Johnson, 41, of Dunvegan Road, Birmingham was sentenced on Friday 17 January 2025 at Birmingham Crown Court for five counts of rape, three counts of making indecent…
Press ReleaseSexual offencesWest Midlands
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Please note that our Press Office is NOT able to deal with issues or queries from members of the public - these contact details are for accredited journalists ONLY. Do not call this number unless you a member of the press. For all general enquiries, please visit contact.cps.gov.uk.
If you are a national or international journalist with a media enquiry, you can contact the CPS Press Office on 020 3357 0906 or email [email protected] (9am-5pm weekdays only).
For out-of-hours media enquiries please call 020 3357 0906 to reach the duty press officer.
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Media protocol
To ensure greater openness in the reporting of criminal proceedings, the CPS, the police and media representatives developed a joint protocol for working together. We are currently in the process of updating the protocol.
