Birmingham Post

Pounds 25m Drugs Gang Jailed

A drug-trafficking gang, led by a convicted killer who masterminded the pounds 25 million racket after fleeing prison, were jailed yesterday for a total of 37 years. Keith Harrison, from Coventry, was serving a sevenand-a-half year sentence for drugs offences and manslaughter when he fled North Sea Camp prison in Lincolnshire while on home leave.

I'm Glad to Be Out, Says Blues Ace Pennant

Birmingham City winger Jermaine Pennant has expressed his "relief" at being released from prison yesterday and vowed to put his football career back on track after a month behind bars for driving offences. The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to drink-driving while disqualified and was jailed on March 1 at Aylesbury Magistrates' Court. Pennant, on loan at St Andrews from Arsenal, was released on parole yesterday after serving a third of his three-month sentence.

Pope 'Given the Last Rites

The condition of Pope John Paul II worsened late last night and it was reported that he had been given the last rites. There were unconfirmed Italian media reports that the 84-year- old Pope had received a sacrament in which the sick and dying are anointed with special oils. The Vatican had no comment, but Church sources said it was likely the Pontiff had received the sacrament, given the precarious state of his health.

Unions Set to Save Godsiff From Deselection

Unions are set to step in and save the career of controversial Birmingham MP Roger Godsiff - if Labour activists try to deselect him. Party members will meet on Sunday to confirm Mr Godsiff's re- selection as candidate for the Sparkbrook and Small Heath constituency, just a day before Tony Blair is expected to announce a General Election.

Loose Talk Cost Gang Dear ; It Was a Lucrative Criminal Enterprise but for the Convicted Killer at Its Apex, Boredom and Loneliness Were to Be His Undoing. Emma Pinch Looks at How Police Smashed a Pounds 25 Million Drug Smuggling Racket

BT's old slogan, 'It's Good To Talk', ultimately didn't ring true for Keith Harrison. It was the astonishing 20,000 mobile phone calls made by the gang's talkative Mr Big between March and August two years ago that led police directly to the door of the gang.

Market Traders and an Ostrich Fraudster - the Drugs Clan

Keith "Red" Harrison - Former publican from the Longford area of Coventry. He was found guilty of the manslaughter of Paul Kettell, who was kicked to death in an incident at a Coventry pub in March 1998. Harrison had prevented an onlooker from interfering in the beating. Described by police as 'bullish' and 'opinionated'. n Anthony "Tone" Handley - Handley, a market trader with experience of accountancy, was known for being able to calculate the costs of drug deals in a fraction of a second. ...

What a Way to Clean Canal with Pounds 1.7m Floating Fund

A project to restore and regenerate abandoned canal basins in Worcestershire has been given pounds 1.7 million to carry out the work which could create up to 70 jobs. British Waterways and the other partners involved in the Stourport Canal Basins Lottery Fund said they were delighted with the news which they believe could generate upto pounds 1.7 million a year in tourism alone.

Rare Mill Rescued From More Neglect

The grandfather of skyscrapers has been saved for the nation. The Ditherington Flax Mill in Shrewsbury is the world's first steel-framed building and the forerunner of the modern skyscraper.

Norman Raking Up a Storm Over Lake

Norman Ball tirelessly rakes together the piles of rubbish floating in a moat at playing fields in a Birmingham suburb. Meanwhile, less than two miles away, a handful of diggers are scraping out the lake at Handsworth Park.

Body Is Discovered

Firefighters called to a car fire found a man's charred body in the burnt out wreckage. Detectives were yesterday trying to establish the identity of the man, who is believed to be in his 40s and from the Smethwick area, following the grim discovery on a lorry park in Fountain Lane, Oldbury.

Accused in Acid Attack Threat to Wife

A Frenchman who tried to kill his estranged British wife had previously threatened to throw acid in her face if she had an affair, a court heard yesterday. Cherif Doua (42) made the threat soon after marrying Jayne Brocklesby in 1999, it was alleged.

Woman Released

A 62-year-old woman, arrested by detectives investigating the theft of a body from a Staffordshire graveyard, has been freed from bail without charge. Staffordshire Constabulary said she was due to report at a police station today, but detectives had released her from bail without charge.

Top Estate Agent Is New High Sheriff

A leading Midland estate agent has been appointed High Sheriff of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Andrew Grant, who lives on a farm in Lower Broadheath, Worcester, was formally decorated in a ceremony at Hereford's Shire Hall last night.

Internet Paedophile in Custody

An American internet paedophile, who groomed a 13year-old Birmingham girl for sex, was remanded in custody last night after appearing at an extradition hearing. Raymond Bohning faces a double-jeopardy prosecution for sex crimes against his victim, a grammar school pupil, and bombarding her with child pornography on the web.

Post Debate: Why Blairheart Will Not Wield Devolution Axe ; Scotland has Its Own Parliament, Wales has Its Own Assembly. So Should England Have Its Own Separate Parliament As Well? Political Editor Jonathan Walker Looks at the Issue While Two Experts Argue the Case for and Against Home Rule

England is the country that does not exist. We rarely mention its name. There is no mention of it in the national anthem. Great civic buildings are often adorned with flags, but not the Cross of St George.

Post Debate: Against - We Really Need to Decentralise

We already have a very English Parliament at Westminster. But it needs to be refocused and we need to decentralise, not perpetuate centralised Government. The public have lost faith in Westminster government because it is too distant and works largely through quangos run by individuals appointed by, and responsible to, Ministers and civil servants in London, and not local people.

Post Debate: For - We Must Have Equal Rights

There are three arguments for an English Parliament - constitutional, economic and cultural. The 1707 Act of Union suspended the English and Scottish Parliaments, creating the British State. The 1998 Devolution Acts restored the Scottish Parliament and recognised the Scottish nation, its history and culture. Wales also gained that recognition but the English Parliament remains suspended.

Rescued From Flood-Car

Mrsa 'Search and Destroy

Patients at one of the region's biggest NHS Trusts may be routinely screened for MRSA before they are admitted, nursing staff have been told. If they have been treated in a hospital or care centre - such as a nursing home - they will be tested for the superbug before being treated as inpatients within University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

Politicians 'Missing Point' On Superbug

Political point-scoring over MRSA means that policies to tackle the superbug are failing to address the issue, experts said today. The Government's focus on pleasing the public "means its policies are missing the point", it was claimed.