Solihull man jailed after machete attack on a plumber in Sheldon

A man has been jailed for five years and three months for a machete attack on a plumber in Birmingham.

Daniel Sidwell, aged 34, and of Wheeley Road, Solihull was one of 16 men who turned up at an apartment block in Birmingham on 16 August.

The victim was working alone when the gang broke in.

The plumber tried to barricade himself in a room to protect himself and was attacked with a machete and other weapons.

He eventually pretended to be unconscious to bring the attack to an end.

Police believe that the men were looking for drugs and mistakenly thought the apartment block in Coventry Road, Sheldon – which was being renovated – housed some kind of cannabis factory.

The man suffered some nasty physical injuries and nearly lost his thumb.

West Midlands Police said although the physical injuries have healed he may not be able to carry on his trade and the psychological effects will last much longer.

Police linked Sidwell to the attack by DNA found on the machete as well as a Ribena bottle he threw out of the car he drove to and from the apartment block. The car was insured just one hour before the incident.

Sidwell initially denied all involvement but eventually admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday (Monday 14 March) for five years and three months in connection with the attack.

He’s the second person to be jailed.

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