Evening news round-up for the Black Country and north Worcestershire

Two men are set to face charges of causing the death of a Stourbridge teenager earlier this year.

Dylan Stringer, aged 22, of Wychbury Road, Pedmore, Stourbridge, and Joseph Chance, aged 24 of Murcroft Road, Pedmore, Stourbridge, are due to appear in court in connection with the death of Nadine Foster, aged 18, who died a few days after the Ford Focus she was travelling in hit a wall in Hagley Road on April 16.

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Those who missed Stourbridge's Christmas lights switch-on by Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd at the weekend can see pictures and video footage of the event by clicking here.

A pensioner whose body was found in a fishing pool a mile away from his Sedgley home, committed suicide, an inquest was told.

William Jewkes, a steward at Upper Gornal Methodist Church, was last seen on Tuesday November 22.

His son, Matthew, who lived with Mr Jewkes at his Tipton Road home, called the police when he arrived home from work and discovered his 75-year-old father was not there and had left items behind that he "never left the house without".

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A former Halesowen security guard who raided five homes in the Dudley area described himself as a “one-man crime wave” when he was arrested.

Ben McCaffer had drug problems when he first broke into the home of a 72-year-old Cradley Heath man while he was asleep getting away with property including £250 in cash and a mobile telephone.

Judge Marcus Tregilgas-Davey told 30-year-old McCaffer: "You went into his room which must have been extremely frightening for anyone and he has suffered a great deal by what you did.

"For a man in his twilight years to feel like that is disgraceful," said the judge as he ordered McCaffer to be locked up for a total of 42 months.

To read the court report in full click here.

A regeneration boss has spoken of his sadness at the demise of a Kidderminster car part manufacturing firm which has resulted in the loss of more than 40 jobs.

Last week, it was announced that Smethwick Drop Forge Ltd, on Stourport Road, had gone into administration as a result of falling sales and a failure to find a buyer. All 43 members of staff were immediately made redundant.

Wyre Forest District Council deputy leader Councillor Hardiman said the authority had tried to support SDF in recent years and were keen to help the administrators find a new buyer.

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An 83-year-old Redditch man who has dedicated his life to helping others has been crowned BBC Midlands Sports "Unsung Hero".

David Finney recently attended the West Midlands Community Sports Awards Dinner and was honoured for his volunteering in swimming, badminton and for the Stonehouse Gang - where he has coached table tennis and badminton.

He was presented with his award by former Midlands star athlete Kath Merry, who won 400m bronze in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

To read more click here.

Members of Bromsgrove Labour Party joined residents on the high street to campaign for the government to increase NHS funding.

More than 500 shoppers and passersby signed a petition, which will be sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid.

Chairman of the BLP Cllr Michael Thompson said: "The response from the public was overwhelming."

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