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 earlier. 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.