Appeal to trace wanted Coventry man...

[dutchman]

Coventry police are appealing for help in tracing a man who failed to appear in court, accused of stabbing a man in the city last year.

James Fletcher was due to appear before Coventry Crown Court on 20 August to stand trial, charged with wounding.

The 38-year-old failed to attend court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Fletcher, who is from the Walsgrave area of the city, was arrested in January following an incident in February 2011 on St Austell Road in which a man was stabbed. The victim, aged 47 at the time, sustained a wound to the abdomen and bowel which required surgery.

Fletcher was later charged with the offence of wounding and appeared before Magistrates prior to failing to attend two scheduled hearings before Coventry Crown Court.

Police appeal for anyone who knows of Fletcher’s whereabouts to contact detectives from the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Coventry by dialling 101 or call directly through to the investigation team on 02476 539130. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

[dutchman]

Police hunt for on-the-run knifeman James Fletcher

Police are trying to track down a landlord who stabbed a man with a Stanley knife in a dispute over money.

James Fletcher, 40, from Blackshaw Drive, Walsgrave, Coventry, carried out the attack in Wyken in February 2011.

He was sentenced to five years in prison in his absence at Warwickshire Justice Centre on Wednesday, West Midlands Police said.

The force said his whereabouts had been unknown since his first court appearance, at which he received bail.

Fletcher stabbed his victim in the abdomen during a row about money between their sons on St Austell Road in Wyken on 23 February 2011.

He was arrested in January 2012 and charged with wounding.

Det Con Fleur Buxton said: "James Fletcher has been convicted of a very serious offence.

"We now need to find him and get him behind bars where belongs so that he can serve his time."