Excellent work from officers from the Selly Oak team who apprehended the offender to ensure the conviction.

A registered sex offender has been jailed for 21 years after a series of attacks on young women which shook the student community in Selly Oak at the end of last year.

Elvis Sidaway, from Fountain Road, Edgbaston, preyed on lone young women as they made their way home in the early hours of the morning after work or a night out, often wearing what was described as a gorilla or ‘Yoda’ mask between 20 November and 29 January. 
A series of sexual assaults were reported in the Selly Oak, Edgbaston and Quinton areas leaving residents fearful to be out after dark and young women were urged not to walk home alone. On each occasion the victim reported that they were grabbed and threatened, sometimes with a knife or another type of weapon.

Police patrols were immediately increased, both uniformed and plain clothed, and CCTV was trawled to identify the offender.

A blue Peugeot 207 was spotted on Dartmouth Road, Selly Oak in the early hours of the 4 February and checks led detectives to Sidaway, who matched the description given by his victims. After his vehicle was spotted in Selly Oak at the same time the next day, Sidaway was arrested and a search of his car revealed condoms and a black firelighter. At his address, officers found a craft knife, black gloves and another firelighter.

The 53-year-old paint mixer was charged with five counts of sexual assault by touching, for which he pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing. He pleaded not guilty to rape and three counts of possession of a knife for which he stood trial earlier this week.

The jury took just two and a half hours to find him guilty of all charges and he was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court today (Friday 14 July). He will also stay on the Sex Offender Register for life.

After the hearing Detective Sergeant Laura Harrison, from the force’s Public Protection Unit, said: “I am pleased with the sentencing today. Sidaway caused a whole community to question their safety. I hope this will reassure his victims and the wider student population that a dangerous man is no longer a threat to them.

“We worked in close partnership with the university and the local authority to ensure everyone was aware of the attacks and what we were doing to catch the offender, whilst making sure safety messages were being shared.

“We have since set up a stronger network of information sharing so that we can understand how best to communicate with the student population and work with them to keep them safe.”

A spokesperson for The University of Birmingham said: “The University of Birmingham would like to thank West Midlands Police for its work in this case. The University works very closely with West Midlands Police to keep our staff and students safe both on and off campus.

“Student and staff safety is of paramount importance to the University and we regularly review our wide range of safety measures and initiatives in consultation with the Police and other authorities.”

Are you a landlord or a letting agent and rent a property out in Selly Oak, then come along to the local lettings forum meeting that the police run!

Date: Tuesday 8th August 2017

Time: at 10.30am till 12.00

Venue: Harvey Milk Room at The Guild, University of Birmingham.

If you wish to attend can you please let PCSO 31160 Barrington know either by twitter on @sellyoakpolice or email c.m.barrington@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk

Selly Oak Policing Team are having a fun day! Saturday 27^th May 2017 outside Elim Church on Exeter Road, Selly Oak from pm to pm. All proceeds generated on the day will be going to the Bournbrook Community Safety Project. This registered charity makes a practical difference to the lives of local people through such things as house security, alley-gating schemes and taking care of the most vulnerable of residents who live within the Selly Oak area.

Every year manager of the project Barry Toon works tirelessly to ensure the Selly Oak community feel safe in their own homes. However with limited funding this is becoming increasingly difficult.

As part of the fun day Selly Oak police are organising a ‘Selfie Scavenger Hunt’ with the winner taking home a brand new 32” TV and runner up an Amazon Kindle Touch eReader.

From Monday 22^nd to Friday 26^th May the team will be releasing selfie challenges via our Twitter page so follow us now to be in with a chance to compete @sellyoakpolice

Condition of entry is a £5 donation to the Bournbrook Community Safety Project via a gofundme page: https://funds.gofundme.com/dashboard/selly-oak-care-takers-society.

PCSO Carl Barrington will be available from Wednesday 17th May in the police room at the University centre for people to register their teams or people can email c.m.barrington@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk please provide your name, twitter ID, contact number and proof of donation.

The winner and runners up will be drawn randomly on the day of the Fun Day.