"Gang leave 17-year-old with broken jaw after vicious street attack"

A teenager suffered a fractured jaw after being beaten up by a gang in an alleyway in Coventry city centre.



The attack happened in the alleyway next to McDonald’s in Cross Cheaping as the 17-year-old boy was waiting for a bus with a friend.

He was approached by four black men who launched an unprovoked attack and punched and kicked the teenager several times.

The victim was taken to hospital where he received treatment for his fractured jaw and a split lip, before being discharged.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the assault which happened on January 8 at around 7.20pm.

Anyone who saw the incident or has any information can call Detective Constable Howard Clarke at Coventry Police on 101 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Strange place to wait for a bus?

Strange place to wait for a bus?

I would suggest that all is not as seems at present. Expect a few revisions of this 'story' as time progresses.

Calls for Coventry city centre alley to be sealed



Calls are being made for a shortcut on Coventry’s Burges* to be sealed off amid claims it is being used for drug abuse, violent attacks and as a public toilet.

Residents, business owners and police want the city centre alley between McDonalds and the JenningsBet bookmakers to be closed to stop the area being plagued by antisocial behaviour.

A petition on the issue, signed by 40 people, was handed in to Coventry City Council this week during a full council meeting.

The petition calls on the council to ‘investigate closing the alleyway on The Burges* next to McDonalds. The alleyway is the subject of antisocial behaviour including drug dealing, urinating, violent attacks and intimidation of shopworkers and members of the public.’

It was presented by Labour Coun Jim O’Boyle who represents the city centre St Michael’s ward.

He told the Telegraph: “There have been a couple of stabbings there. People are hanging around and it is used as a urinal.

“It’s not a great place to attract good people all up and down that road. A number of police officers have actually signed the petition as well.”

He added that improvements were being made to the area with the ongoing changes around Palmer Lane and the River Sherbourne and that closing the shortcut could be another step towards improving the area.

He said: “I think there’s no practical reason why we should object to it being closed. If the harm of keeping it open outweighs the good, I would want to see it closed.”

Asked about previously raised concerns the area was being used by paedophiles targeting children for sexual exploitation, he said: “It’s not unreasonable to say that where there are a lot of young people hanging around it would not surprise anybody if you had undesirable elements hanging around as well.

“The Burges is a honeypot for all sorts of activities and behaviours.”

The petition has been organised by McDonalds franchisee John Kiely, who acknowledged there might be some legal issues over rights of public access but hoped any issues could be resolved by the council.

He said: “There have been issues with people hanging around the area at night shouting and screaming and instances of drug abuse.

“It’s a well known area and it’s one that gives the road a bad aspect, particularly because there’s a bus stop right outside.”

He added: “The feedback we have from customers is that it can be quite intimidating. I can’t see any negatives other than some people might have to walk a bit further.

“It can be quite antagonising when gangs of people are there and people have to walk in the area when people are urinating there.”

It's actually in Cross Cheaping not The Burges.

City centre alley plagued by anti-social behaviour finally closed off



An alleyway in Coventry city centre blighted by drug users and anti-social behaviour has been sealed off.

Residents, business owners and police had called for the shortcut between McDonalds and JenningsBet bookmakers in The Burges to be closed and a petition was handed in to the city council.

Gates have now been put up at either end of the alley which the petition said had seen violent attacks, drug dealing and was even used as a public toilet.

The plans were organised by McDonalds franchisee John Kiely who said: “We put the gates in place on Friday in co-operation with the city council.

“We used to get anti-social behaviour down there and we put notices up telling people the plans and there was no negative feedback.

“It’s early days at the moment but people seem to be respecting it.”

The petition was presented to council earlier this year by Coun Jim O’Boyle, who represents the city centre St Michael’s ward.

He said: “Residents and local businesses had raised concerns about anti-social behaviour in the alley and I’m pleased we’ve been able to take action and close it off.

“There are more improvements being made around the Burges including changes around Palmer Lane and the River Sherbourne. Closing the shortcut is another step towards improving the area.”

He had previously told the Telegraph there had been “a couple of stabbings there” and it was also “used as a urinal”.

Coun O’Boyle added: “It’s not a great place to attract good people all up and down that road.

“A number of police officers actually signed the petition as well.”