'Useless' police response to brutal attack in Solihull prompts family to hire private investigator - The Solihull Observer

'Useless' police response to brutal attack in Solihull prompts family to hire private investigator

Solihull Editorial 9th Jan, 2019 Updated: 9th Jan, 2019   0

A MAN brutally attacked by a group of men in Solihull town centre last month has issued a public appeal for help – after a private investigator was hired.

And his dad has warned more people will be taking matters into their own hands, after years of police cuts.

The 31-year-old victim, who did not want to be named, was with his friends in Station Road when seven men targeted him following a disagreement in a takeaway food shop.

His father John Glynn said he felt he had no choice but to hire the private investigator as he was left frustrated with the police’s lack of response.




The investigation found witnesses, who recalled there was one main aggressor who appeared to start the argument.

The victim says he was trying to ‘defuse the situation’ after his friend got into a disagreement with one of the men.


The victim was then punched in the face with his back turned.

Describing the brawl, the witnesses recall being able to hear the sound of the victim’s head hitting the ground.

The ‘loud and obnoxious’ offender was said to have on two occasions continued assaulting the victim while he was lying unconscious on the ground.

He is reported to be around five foot eight inches, muscular, bearded, wearing a distinctive Burberry patterned scarf and a lookalike of UFC mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor.

The victim’s friends, with him at the time, said he was unconscious for 10 minutes before he was transported to hospital.

He says he was badly bruised on his back, neck and ribs as a result of members of the group kicking him on the floor.

He and his father were both extremely critical of the police’s reaction.

The victim said: “The response has been very poor, useless actually.

“We were given the crime number nearly a month ago and we have only just had an update last night (Monday, January 7).

“The officer in charge of the case was off work for three weeks.

“In any other workplace, that work would be passed on to someone else.

“Police have managed to look at the council CCTV, but the full events couldn’t be seen.”

John and his son are still waiting for CCTV from other establishments in the area and feel the police have not been ‘proactive’ in obtaining the footage – which they think will reveal the full details.

John said: “Police can’t guarantee the safety of the public anymore. Solihull’s streets aren’t safe with no police presence.

“We will end up with vigilante communities if something doesn’t change.”

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “Police are investigating an altercation in Station Road, Solihull, at around 3.20am on Sunday, December 9.

“A man in his early 30s suffered cuts to the face after being assaulted.

“Officers are exploring all CCTV opportunities.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact us via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am to midnight, call 101 anytime or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting crime reference number 20SH/286578M/18.

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