Jailed: 12 violent West Midlands criminals put behind bars in July
Each month, dozens of criminals face justice as they are placed behind bars for a range of crimes, ranging from theft all the way to robbery, assault and even murder.
July saw dozens of wanted criminals across the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire finally face justice as they were locked up for their crimes.
In our monthly round-up, the Express & Star takes a look at a range of the most prolific criminals who were locked away for their crimes in the Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire.
From Birmingham thieves to Wolverhampton murderers, here are 12 of the most prolific criminals to face justice in July.
Anthony Patterson, Birmingham
Anthony Patterson, of Birmingham, was sentenced to five years after officers from the West Midlands Police major crime unit seized a Thompson submachine gun and 176 rounds of ammunition in a toolbox during a property search in Birmingham.
The weapon and bullets were examined by experts, who confirmed that they were live and viable.
Shortly after the warrant was executed, Patterson handed himself in to the police and was charged with possession of an automatic firearm and possession of ammunition.
He was sentenced on July 24.
Mark Turner, Coventry
Mark Turner, 47, was jailed for nine months after being found guilty of committing a 'summer spree' of shop thefts in Coventry.
Turner targeted shops in the north of the city, and over the course of the shopping spree, became one of Coventry's local policing area's 'most wanted' offenders.
More than 100 evidence exhibits were used to build a case against Turner, who was later charged with 16 shop thefts.
He was also banned from all of the premises that he targeted during the spree.
Ovidiu Gurita and Vasilica Bornescu, Wolverhampton
Ovidiu Gurita and Vasilica Bornescue, aged 39 and 34 respectively, of Hunter Street, Wolverhampton, were jailed for the killing of Ricardo Maragliano, who was tragically found dead in his flat in Thorneycroft Lane on May 30.
While Maragliano, 34, was discovered in his flat with cuts, bruises and a range of other injuries, his death remains inconclusive; however, the jury heard that he had also suffered a compression to his neck.
It was also found that Maragliano's Rolex watch and other jewellery had also been taken, which police found was later sold 'within days'.
Gurita was sentenced to life for Maragliano's murder and ordered to serve a minimum of 27 years, whilst Bornescue was jailed for 12 years for manslaughter.
Andrew Speers, Birmingham
Andrew Speers, 53, of Bell Court, Birmingham, was jailed for 25 years for raping a child and being in possession of child sexual abuse material.
The 53-year-old was arrested in July 2024, following a warrant that was carried out at his home address.
Upon searching his digital devices, officers discovered a substantial amount of child sexual abuse material. Following a further investigation by the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team, Speers was also arrested for raping a child.
Speers pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children, but not guilty to multiple offences of raping a child.
However, in a trial held at Birmingham Crown Court, Speers was found guilty in March 2025.
He was jailed for 25 years and put on the sex offenders register for life.
Gavin Reilly, Craig Booth, Paul Bagnall and Carlton Betts, Stephen Hall, Jason Hall, Dudley
Six men from the Dudley area were jailed for a combined time of 60 years following a series of armed robberies and burglaries at pubs, supermarkets and off-licenses.
Starting on August 9, 2021, the group committed a string of robberies across Dudley, stealing thousands of pounds of cash, alcohol and cigarettes.
They also stole a total of 20 vehicles from residential and commercial premises in the West Midlands and Staffordshire.
The group committed a total of 11 violent armed robberies, and in many were armed with axes, machetes and knives, as well as donning balaclavas.
Gavin Reilly, 45, of Thornhill Road, was jailed for 19 years.
Craig Booth, 48, of Kirby Drive, was jailed for 10 years and six months.
Stephen Hall, 46, of Withern Way, was jailed for 15 years and eight months.
Jason Hall, 49, of Knighton Road, was jailed for nine years and eight months.
Carlton Betts, 29, was jailed for three years.
Paul Bagnall, 38, of Lichfield Street, was jailed for two years and three months.
Sharjeel Shahzad, Birmingham
Sharjeel Shazad, 30, of Cooksey Lane, Birmingham, was jailed for 15 years and four months after a two-year-old boy died following a hit-and-run collision in Smethwick on December 15, 2024.
Two-year-old Shehbaz Singh died after a car struck a red Toyota, which he was travelling in with his family.
Shazad was travelling in a stolen grey Porsche when he overtook another vehicle on Dartmouth Road, near the junction with Roebuck Lane.
After overtaking the other vehicle, Shazad lost control of his vehicle before veering onto the opposite side of the road and colliding with the Toyota.
He was found to be travelling at 48mph before the collision.
Four members of Shehbaz's family, who were all also in the Toyota, sustained injuries from the collision.
The 30-year-old was arrested two days after the collision, after fleeing the scene.
Carl Houldey, Tipton
Carl Houldey, 65, of Shakespeare Road, Tipton, was jailed for 24 years after a teenager bravely spoke of the ordeal she suffered at the hands of the man who raped her.
Houldey was arrested after West Midlands Police was contacted by the girl, along with members of her family, who reported that she had been attacked.
Following extensive enquiries, including interviews with Houldey, forensic analysis of clothing and analysis of his phone, Houldey was charged with four counts of rape and a number of other sexual offences.
At a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Houldey was found guilty by a jury and was sentenced to 24 years in prison.
He was also put on the sex offenders register for life.
