West Midlands Police has issued an urgent appeal for help to trace a man wanted over a vicious domestic assault in which a woman was attacked with a meat cleaver.

Cleon Smith is sought in connection with the attack in Church Vale, Handsworth, on the evening of 30 December.

It’s understood Smith dragged a 42-year-old woman from her car and repeatedly struck her with a cleaver. The victim suffered cuts to her head and another wound to her hand, while a 21-year-old woman also in the car suffered a cut hand.

Smith is also suspected of fracturing the same woman’s cheekbone at an address in Moseley three days earlier after punching her around 20 times and striking her with a baton.

West Midlands Police officers have executed warrants at 10 separate addresses across Birmingham on the hunt for Smith, aged 42, but he remains at large.

Now the force has issued an appeal for information on the whereabouts of Smith.

Superintendent Nick Walton, said: “Smith is a dangerous offender who we want to speak to about two violent assaults on a woman where weapons were used.

“We need to get this man in custody as soon as possible and I’d urge anyone who’s seen him or has information that could help our enquiries to get in touch.

“We don’t need people’s names and information can be passed to us in confidence; we just want information to help us trace Smith.”

People can contact West Midlands Police via Live Chat on the West Midlands Police website or by calling 101.

Alternatively, people can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Callers won’t be asked for their names and calls cannot be traced.