March 2026 saw a string of brutal crimes and reckless acts in Birmingham, resulting in multiple offenders being sentenced to immediate imprisonment. This month’s cases reveal heart-wrenching stories, from mothers who harboured a murderer to terrifying child abductions and devastating driving incidents.
One shocking case involved Julie Faulkner and her daughter Elisha Faulkner, who hid Malcolm Francis—wanted for the killing of Ricardo Cotteral—in their Birmingham home for five weeks. Elisha, 30, who had begun a relationship with Francis, was sentenced to three years for assisting an offender. Julie, 64, received two and a half years for the same crime.
The list also includes rampant theft, exemplified by Kieran Brookes, who was caught trying to escape police in a shopping trolley in Sutton Coldfield. He was jailed for four weeks after multiple offences including breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order.
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In a deeply disturbing case, Rhyce Longstaff was convicted of raping a 14-year-old girl who had passed out after substance use. He received a 16-year sentence, plus an extended licence period.
James Guest’s violent intimidation ended with a two-year-and-five-month sentence after breaking into a woman’s home wielding a machete and taunting law enforcement.
Speeding and reckless driving claimed the life of four-year-old Mayar Yahia when Javonnie Tavener lost control of his vehicle while intoxicated and using his phone. Tavener received over five years in prison for causing death by careless driving and related assaults.
One of the darkest crimes involved Abdulraziq Mohammed, who snatched and sexually assaulted a five-year-old girl in Winson Green. Caught after neighbors heard cries, he was sentenced to 11 years with an extended licence following convictions for multiple serious offences.
The city’s drug problems were highlighted by the arrests of Ishaaq Ayaz and Numaan Mahmood, linked to a cocaine and heroin supply line called ‘Frankie’. Ayaz received over seven years’ imprisonment, while Mahmood was jailed for just over two years.
Brad Baker terrorized Sutton Park by spraying strangers with CS gas, causing burns and panic. He was sentenced to four years after being convicted of multiple offences, including possession of an illegal weapon and public indecency.
Stalking and arson were the crimes committed by Matthew Whitehouse, who harassed tattoo artists before setting fire to pub property costing £27,000 in damage. He received two and a half years behind bars.
A high-speed collision near Birmingham City’s stadium caused severe injuries and permanent disability when Azam Adal, driving recklessly and exceeding speed limits, crashed into a car. Adal was jailed for over three years, while his brother-in-law, implicated in obstructing justice, received an 18-month sentence.
Stephen Jeffries, a convicted dangerous offender, was sentenced to 22 years for abusing three girls over nearly two decades. Similarly, drug dealer Reo Seivwright was given six years for dangerous driving and supply offences.
Violent attacks also featured heavily this month. Taylor Burns was jailed for over six years for a knife attack on a quad bike rider; Simon Tang received nearly ten years for assault and rape of a sex worker; and Rhemeese Lawrence-Hayden got 14 years for causing death by dangerous driving.
Other notable sentences included Reece Allen, sentenced to seven and a half years after stabbing a shop worker, and the kidnapping conspiracy masterminded by Luke Hazell and Miles Blakeney, resulting in 16 and ten years respectively.
Jason Walker, after nearly doubling the speed limit, caused life-changing injuries to a retired couple and received a two-year and eight-month sentence. Public violence was also punished in cases involving Omar Clarke and Callum Russell, each receiving significant jail time for assaults and using vehicles as weapons.
Finally, Lanlan Guo was jailed for breaching a human trafficking order after being caught with a stolen bank card, marking her second breach within months.
This series of convictions highlights the severe consequences of criminal behavior in Birmingham, reinforcing the city’s commitment to justice and public safety.