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

A Stourbridge man was hugged by delighted family members after he was cleared by a jury of killing his "difficult" mother during a row over the roast potatoes for their Christmas dinner.

A six-man six-woman panel at Wolverhampton Crown Court considered the evidence for just 93 minutes before reaching a unanimous verdict that Mark Jennens was not guilty of manslaughter.

The 40-year-old from Amblecote said: "It was not the thought of prison that bothered me. It was the stigma of being the guy who killed his own mom."

To read the full court report click here.

A Red Bull thief from Kates Hill has been sent to prison for 35 weeks.

Zafar Iqbal, aged 42, of Highfield Road, stole the energy drinks, worth £20, from Heron Foods, Dudley, on May 30.

He was subject to a suspended sentence at the time.

When he appeared at Dudley Magistrates Court, he was also sentenced for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards a PCSO in Dudley on July 6, leading them to believe that violence would be used.

He was ordered to pay compensation of £100.

To see the full court list click here.

A bodybuilder from Alvechurch has launched his own campaign to challenge knife crime, after being stabbed 12 times as he tried to save a woman from being attacked.

Fitness competitor Will Flint, 27, was repeatedly knifed near a Birmingham cashpoint in the early hours of New Years Day, following a night out in the city centre with friends.

He was stabbed in the back, leg, side and stomach, leaving him in hospital for two weeks with 60 staples, a collapsed lung and severed spleen.

To read the full story click here.

Musicians, comedians and actors will be heading to Wyre Forest in October for the 30th anniversary of Bewdley Festival.

The full line-up has been revealed for the anniversary festival, which will take place between October 6, and October 15.

Highlights will include Roger McGough and LiTTLe MACHiNe, an interview with actor Timothy Watson and an evening with Dr Pete Waterman OBE.

To find out more click here.

The Greyhound Trust is appealing for help from people in the Black Country and north Worcestershire following the shock announcement a third greyhound racing track is to close this year.

Birmingham’s Hall Green Stadium, which was originally expected to close its doors in August 2018, is now set to shut at the end of this month after the closure of Wimbledon and Gretna Green tracks earlier this year.

To find out more about how you can help the trust click here.