Solihull racist jailed after beating woman around the head with a chair leg

A Solihull man who beat a woman with a chair leg in a violent attack has been jailed. John Cummings stormed to an address in Smiths Wood in September this year armed with the unusual weapon.

He demanded to be let in to see a man, who he had been previously threatening, inside. But, when a woman intervened and tried to stop him, the 44-year-old forced his way in and grabbed her by the throat.

Continuing the brutal attack, he began to hit her in the face and head with the chair leg, causing serious injuries to her scalp, face, neck and arm. A local saw what was happening and called the police.

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Cummings fled the property but detectives managed to locate him to his home address two days later. He refused to open the door and shouted abuse at the officers.

When they forced their way in, Cummings lunged at one of the officers and hit them in the jaw before being tasered. Police said that Cummings, from Sheldon, shouted abuse during his arrest which included using a racial slur.

Further police enquiries found an extensive history of abusive messages and voicemails sent by Cummings to the man he had intended to go after - including threats to seriously harm him. Cummings was charged with wounding, aggravated burglary, non-fatal strangulation, harassment, assaulting an emergency worker and racially aggravated harassment.

He was jailed for five years after being found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court on December 6 this year. Sergeant Tracey Gordon, from Solihull CID, said: "I am really proud of the team effort involved in taking this incredibly dangerous individual off the street.

"Officers from our team, as well as colleagues from the LEO's neighbourhood team worked around the clock to investigate and build this case following what was a truly horrific attack on an innocent person."