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

A flasher who twice targeted young children in Stourbridge Library has been jailed for nine months.

Anthony Edwards first flashed in front of two 13-year-old girls who were left shocked by his actions with one vowing never to go back to the library, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Then just 14 days later the 62-year-old flashed again in front of a mother with three children - leaving them all "scared and distressed".

To read the full court report click here.

A meet and eat event is being staged in Stourbridge to raise funds for a new charitable cause which helps the homeless.

The bring and share meal event is being held at St Thomas's Church Hall, Market Street, Stourbridge, on Saturday March 4 from 6pm, to raise money for Leslie’s Care Packages for the Homeless - which was set up by Wollaston widow Vi Wood in memory of her late husband.

Vi started the charitable organisation last year to help change people's perceptions of homelessness and it has since become a hugely popular cause in Stourbridge.

To read more about it click here.

Police have launched an appeal for witnesses and information after a man was injured when a glass was thrown during a fracas at a Bewdley bar.

An altercation between two men took place at Arches Bar, in Severnside South, between 11.45pm and midnight on Friday (February 24).

A glass is thought to have been thrown at the victim, a 20-year-old man, and he suffered a cut to his head and nose, and bruising to his face.

To read more click here.

A senior Wyre Forest councillor has stepped down from her role, resulting in a shake-up of the ruling group.

Councillor Sara Fearn has stood down from Wyre Forest District Council and Stourport Town Council - including her role as district council cabinet member for transformation and change - as she prepares to move to Devon soon.

To read the full story click here.

A ‘family man’ from Bromsgrove has been jailed for grooming and sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl with learning difficulties, after she sent him a friend request on Facebook.

Paul Abbott, 54, of Rock Hill, groomed the underage south Warwickshire girl over the internet before meeting her for sexual activity in his car, Warwick Crown Court was told.

The victim, who had learning difficulties which meant she had the mental age of a nine or 10-year-old, first contacted Abbott after entering a name at random in a Facebook search.

But prosecutor Matthew Brook said Abbott took advantage of the situation to groom the girl before arranging to meet her four or five times in December 2015 and January last year.

To read more click here.

An animal sanctuary is appealing for help after Storm Doris destroyed many of its homes resulting in hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

Hopper Haven and Littlefoot Sanctuary, on Evesham Road in Crabbs Cross, has been left in bad shape after a 70 foot conifer came down and damaged a number of enclosures and hutches on Thursday, February 23.

Sanctuary owner Louise Devaney rescued six rabbits, just moments before the tree crashed to the ground.

To read more click here.