Here are the top five most read stories on Birminghammail.net today;
1. Birmingham rape trial collapsed after barrister's meeting with teenage victim
A Birmingham rape trial was scrapped after a barrister held a meeting with teenage victim Dana Baker at his home.
Prosecutor David Jones, who was also a part-time judge, breached strict legal guidelines on witness contact by meeting with the 15-year-old girl.
The costly trial was halted after the judge heard details of the meeting and Mr Jones – a barrister with No5 Chambers in Birmingham – resigned from the Bar soon afterwards.
2. Football coach who taught Aston Villa and Birmingham City stars dies aged 78
TRIBUTES have been paid after the death of a Birmingham football coach who taught thousands of youngsters – including two who went on to become England stars.
He coached generations of city children, including two England stars – former Aston Villa striker Darius Vassell and Birmingham City Ladies player Eniola Aluko.
3. Big freeze: Frosty car crime spree in Solihull
FOUR cars were stolen from frosty driveways in Solihull in one day last week.
In one incident a homeowner lost two cars after they were both left unattended to defrost.
And in another incident an opportunist thief jumped behind the wheel of a BMW in Tythe Barn Lane and ploughed it through wooden gates to escape.
4. Yardley MP John Hemming admits Mail readers were right over missing cat
A CONTROVERSIAL Birmingham MP has finally admitted that Birmingham Mail readers were right over a case of mistaken identity involving his stolen cat.
Yardley MP John Hemming confirmed that the cat he and his lover Emily Cox thought might be the missing cat Beauty is not.
Instead, they have kept one of the animal’s kittens and called it Patches.
5. Man trapped after car collides with lamppost in Edgbaston
A man was trapped for over an hour after the car he was in collided with a lamppost in Birmingham.
The crash happened close to the Dormy Hotel in Hagley Road, Edgbaston at around 9.20pm on Monday evening.
An ambulance, a rapid response vehicle, an incident support officer and a BASICS Emergency Doctor were sent to the scene.
