Revealed: Faces of a couple who drove at Wolverhampton victim ‘with murderous intent’ unveiled by police after jail sentence
The mugshots of a man and his girlfriend who have been jailed for more than 30 years after driving at a man in Wolverhampton ‘with murderous intent’ have been unveiled by police
A man convicted of attempted murder after twice running over a victim in a Wolverhampton street has been jailed for more than 20 years.
His girlfriend, who got out of the car and stole a gold chain from the victim before they drove away - leaving him seriously injured - has also been locked up for nine years for robbery.
The Express & Star previously reported on the sentencing. You can read the story here: Jailed: Wolverhampton couple who drove at victim 'with murderous intent' after bungled drug deal behind bars for over 30 years
Now police have released the mugshots of Melvin Winters and Josie James - both from Bushbury.
West Midlands Police officers have told how they were called by ambulance colleagues to a potentially fatal collision in Pope Road in The Scotlands, at around 2.20pm on July 2 last year.
They found the 42-year-old victim being treated for serious injuries to his legs, ribs and shoulder by paramedics before he was taken to hospital. He is continuing with his recovery.
A spokesperson for WMP said: “Enquiries quickly established that the man had been struck by a black Vauxhall Insignia which was found abandoned in nearby Masefield Mews at around 3.05pm the same day and recovered for forensic examinations.
“Supported by CCTV evidence, investigators found that Melvin Winters and Josie James had met their victim that afternoon and there was an argument.
“The victim was walking away as Winters hit him with the car, knocking him over. Winters then drove round and while the man was still on the ground hit him with the car for a second time.
“As the man lay badly injured, James got out of the car and took a gold chain from him before she and Winters drove off leaving their victim behind.
“The pair were quickly identified and traced with officers arresting them from separate addresses on 5 July.”
Winters, aged 46, denied attempted murder and he and James, aged 32, both denied robbery. However, following a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court they were convicted of the charges in December.
Winters and James, both from Bushbury, were sentenced on Monday (February 10) with Winters being given a 24-year jail term, with an additional four year extended licence on release. James was sentenced to nine years.
‘Horrifyingly dangerous and completely reckless’
DC Reece Markham, from the Major Crime Unit, said: "Using a car as a weapon against another person is horrifyingly dangerous, and completely reckless - it could so easily have resulted in a loss of life.
"Then for the victim to be robbed whilst helpless on the ground is shocking, and only compounded by the fact that the two offenders drove away leaving their victim to the mercy of his significant injuries.
"Both refused to take responsibility for their appalling actions but have now rightly been convicted and jailed for a considerable amount of time for their crime."
