A man who stole more than #400,000 from a medical centre in Solihull where he worked as practice manager has been jailed for four years.

Philip Richard White (46), of the Stags Head pub in Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, had pleaded guilty to nine charges of obtaining money transfers by deception.

Warwick Crown Court was told there were 200 further occasions when he had committed similar offences to obtain more the money from the Shirley Medical Centre.

Andrew Tucker, prosecuting, said White had worked as the centre's practice manager, earning up to #27,000 a year, from April 1997 until last October.

But he had to resign last autumn after being prosecuted for downloading indecent images of children, for which he was given a three-year community rehabilitation order.

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International fashion designer turned interior decorator John Rocha has visited Birmingham to unveil his plans for his latest project - the city's most expensive ever penthouse.

The #1.65 million apartment will be the jewel in the crown of The Orion Building, a tower of more than 300 flats designed by Ireland-based Rocha in collaboration with Crosby Homes and BBLB Architects.

Located opposite the Mailbox, and due for completion in September 2006, the 25th floor penthouse will offer 360-degree views of Birmingham and be equivalent in size to two four-bedroom detached houses.

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A Birmingham firefighter who was caught up in last year's tsunami has received a prestigious bravery award for helping to save lives in the disaster.

Roy Phillips, a leading firefighter based at Erdington Fire Station, was on a diving holiday in Phuket when the giant waves struck on Boxing Day.

He managed to pull a Thai girl and local man to safety as the resort was engulfed by a wall of water.

The fireman was one of many heroes honoured at the Royal Life Saving Society awards ceremony held at private bank Coutts & Co in London.

Mr Phillips is only the second person to receive the Certificate of Merit, which is awarded at the discretion of HRH Prince Michael of Kent ? the organisation's Commonwealth President.

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The office where the founder of MG Rover plotted the early days of the car company has been saved to inspire future generations.

Nanjing Automobile, the Chinese firm which bought the company in July for #53 million, has pledged to make Lord Austin's office the centrepiece of its redevelopment of Longbridge.

The office is to be preserved exactly how it has been for more than 100 years after Phoenix directors showed the office to senior Nanjing executives and explained its importance to Britain's motoring past.

There were fears that when Nanjing acquired the site following the collapse of MG Rover the office may be lost.

See Friday's Birmingham Post for more on these stories