Hero cabbie wins award after helping police catch robber

A taxi driver who helped officers arrest a violent robber who attacked a pregnant woman with a hammer in Dudley has received a West Midlands Police award.
Muhammad Ilyas was driving past when he saw the horror attack which left the woman, aged in her 30s, with a fractured skull in Dixons Green on 28 October 2016.
As a fellow passer-by went to comfort the victim, who had a child with her, Mr Ilyas joined another man in following the attacker to ensure he didn’t escape.
Officers arrived promptly and arrested the 49 year old attacker where it emerged he had tried to snatch an elderly woman’s handbag just minutes early. He went on to be jailed for a minimum of 10 years at Wolverhampton Crown Court. Mr Ilyas , aged 25 from Dudley, has been awarded a Chief Constable’s Good Citizens Award in recognition of his bravery and public-spirited actions. This was handed over at an awards ceremony at the force’s Tally Ho! base earlier this month (13 February).