June 2026 was a landmark month for justice in Birmingham, with numerous high-profile criminals sentenced, including two historic child sex abusers whose victims waited decades for justice. Among the most shocking cases were the teacher parents who fatally neglected their 12-year-old son, and a killer driver who fled the scene and fell asleep in a taxi. This round-up covers 19 cases sentenced in June.
Teacher Parents Jailed for Son's Death
Tamara Thomas, 46, and Damion Thomas, 48, both qualified teachers from Kings Heath, were sentenced for the death of their 12-year-old son Joshua. He collapsed and died from undiagnosed and untreated Type 1 diabetes. Tamara was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter and jailed for three years and nine months; Damion was found guilty of child cruelty and sentenced to two years and nine months. The court heard that Damion saw Joshua was weak at 4am but went to work, while Tamara assumed he was asleep when he was likely in a coma.
Killer Driver Fell Asleep in Taxi
Tyrone Clarke, 51, ran over and killed pensioner John Marson, 79, on Highters Heath Lane in Kings Heath. Driving a stolen car at 45mph in a 30mph zone in dark, rainy conditions, he struck Mr. Marson, who died from extensive injuries. Clarke fled on foot, walked to a Sainsbury's, and took a taxi home, ironically claiming his car had been stolen. He fell asleep in the taxi. He admitted causing death by dangerous driving, causing death while driving uninsured, and handling stolen goods. He was jailed for six years and nine months and banned from driving for seven years after release.
Historic Sex Abusers Finally Jailed
Peter King, 73, a taxi driver from Highgate, raped two young girls in the 1990s and 2000s, making one pregnant. He groomed them with gifts and trips. He was found guilty of five counts of rape and ten indecent assaults and jailed for 22 years. Stuart May, 82, a former scout leader, was already serving eight years and nine months for abusing boys in the 1970s in Sutton Coldfield. After that case, three more victims came forward. He denied the accusations but was found guilty of eight offences of indecent assault and indecency with a child. He received an additional eight years, consecutive to his previous term.
Teacher Sexually Abused Boys During Tutoring
Adam Sherwood, 57, a teacher from Moseley, sexually assaulted two children while working as a private tutor. He repeatedly touched one victim at his home and groped another at a climbing centre. He was found guilty of four counts of sexually touching a boy under 13 and jailed for two years and six months.
Revenge Ambush Shooting
Four men carried out a revenge ambush shooting in a cul-de-sac in Moseley. Shakeel Ali, 24, was lured to Woodnorton Drive, where his car was rammed and he was shot in the chest and leg but survived. Humza Tufail, 25, from Moseley, held a grudge over a previous shooting at his house. All four admitted wounding with intent and a firearm offence. Awil Mohammed, 25, received 16 years (including for drug supply); Abdelhafez Mohammed, 23, the gunman, got 15 years and six months; Mohammed Aziz, 23, got 13 years and six months; and Tufail got 13 years.
Gang Who Shot Man in Chest
In a separate case, a gang shot a man in the chest in a revenge attack. The victim, in his 20s, was confronted by Mohamed Mahamad, 37, who stabbed him 29 times, including in the heart, in an attempted robbery. Mahamad was sentenced to 17 years for wounding with intent, attempted robbery, and possession of a knife.
Car Cannibals Stripped Nearly 100 Vehicles
Mohammed Khan and Mohammed Haydar, both 23, stripped nearly 100 vehicles of parts over two years, targeting cars near St Andrew's stadium. They admitted conspiracy to steal from motor vehicles and each were jailed for four years and three months.
13-Year-Old Girl Stabbed Classmate
A 13-year-old girl stabbed a female classmate in the neck at a Birmingham school, shouting 'I want to kill you'. She had launched a TikTok hate campaign and later wrote 'LMAO' about the stabbing in her diary. The victim sustained a cut behind her ear. The defendant, now 15, was found guilty of wounding with intent and sentenced to three years and four months detention.
Other Notable Cases
Mohamad Mahamad (37) was jailed for 17 years for stabbing a man 29 times in an attempted robbery. Madat Ali (55) and Rowen Picken (32) were jailed for 12 years and six months and six years respectively for running the 'Kam' drugs line. Sultan Arif (33) was jailed for six years for stashing a revolver at a petrol station. Haaris Zubair (20) got eight years and three months for supplying heroin and crack cocaine. Faieq Ghazanfar (21) was jailed for 11 years and 10 months, and Lesane Anishere (19) for 14 years, for a plot to shoot at a house in Alum Rock. Rizwan Malik (43) got ten years and three months for supplying guns via Encrochat. Mohammad Khan (28) was jailed for 14 months for dangerous driving. Kristian Lleshi (35) and Xhulijana Trimi (29) were jailed for two years and two months and 18 months respectively for cannabis and money laundering. John Davies (58) got 14 years and six months for throwing boiling water at police. Majid Hussain (45) and Sahil Suleman (23) were jailed for eight years and eight months and three years respectively for drug dealing and dangerous driving. Awil Mohammed (25) also received 16 years for drug supply.
