CAREFUL SOLIHULL MAN CARL POYNER INVOLVED IN BRUTAL HAMMER ATTACK AND CHILD ABUSE CASE

In a case that has shocked the community, Carl Poyner, a resident of Solihull, was convicted of heinous crimes that spanned over several years, including a savage assault with a hammer and the severe abuse of a young girl. The incidents, which took place in different locations, have left a lasting impact on the victims and the local community alike.

Back in February 1999, Poyner was involved in a disturbing attack that resulted in a man being kidnapped and beaten in Chelmsley Wood. According to the prosecution, the victim, Gary Casey, was targeted as he left a flat to purchase cocaine. Poyner, along with an accomplice, ambushed Casey, both of whom were dressed in black hoods, and subjected him to a brutal assault. Michael Burrows, the prosecutor, detailed that Casey was sprayed in the face with CS gas during the attack, which was part of a wider pattern of violent behavior associated with drug-related conflicts in the area.

In addition to the assault, Poyner was linked to a horrifying case of child abuse involving a three-year-old girl in Birmingham. The young girl was found to have suffered extensive physical and sexual injuries, which left her in critical condition. Medical professionals at Stafford Crown Court described her injuries as severe, with multiple bruises, some of which indicated restraint, and injuries to her abdomen consistent with being punched. The girl also had burn marks on her feet, bruising around her ears, and hair pulled out, alongside 14 scratch marks on her neck, suggestive of rough handling with a hairbrush.

Her condition was so dire that a doctor at a health center believed she was on the verge of death. She was admitted to Heartlands Hospital for urgent treatment, where she remained for 12 days. The examination revealed that she was semi-conscious, cold, and suffering from symptoms that led doctors to suspect meningitis. The injuries were so extensive that the medical team feared she might not survive.

Poyner, who was residing on Brickhill Drive in Chelmsley Wood, denied the charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and indecent assault. He claimed innocence and attempted to shift blame onto another individual for the injuries inflicted upon the girl. During the investigation, Poyner was arrested in Swansea, but he maintained his denial of any wrongdoing.

The girl's mother, overwhelmed with emotion, recounted the harrowing scene when she found her daughter. She described her daughter’s swollen and shut eyes, pale complexion, and unresponsiveness. The mother also noted a red mark on her child's head and her inability to respond or acknowledge her presence, which underscored the severity of the injuries sustained.

In the end, Poyner was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the assault with a hammer, with an additional three-year sentence to run concurrently for the child abuse case. His last known address was in Markfield, Leicestershire, but he was known to have ties to Solihull. The community continues to grapple with the aftermath of these disturbing events, which have brought to light the darker aspects of violence and abuse in the area.