Joss Stone plot pair guilty

Kevin Liverpool, 35, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 10 years after he and Junior Bradshaw, 32, were found guilty of conspiracy to murder and rob after a three-week trial at Exeter crown court.

The court heard how the two men harboured a deep hatred for the singer, calling her a “she-devil”, and that a series of handwritten notes found in their car suggested they disapproved of her being invited to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in 2011.

They had prepared their plot, the court heard, by watching MTV’s Cribs to learn more about one of her former homes. They also printed out Google maps, and then asked a postman for directions to her home by showing him a picture of the international singer.

They had apparently outlined plans to kill and behead her, and dump her body in a river. But they were thwarted after they were involved in a crash on the journey to the West Country from Manchester.

‘Arsenal of weapons’

The court was told that the men set off from their home in Manchester for the singer’s home in Devon on the morning of 13 June3, 2011. The car contained an “arsenal” of weapons, including hammers, a knife, a metal spike and a samurai sword. Officers also found balaclavas, gaffer tape and bin bags.

They had learned about a former home of their target, near Cullompton, after watching a documentary she made for MTV’s Cribs series. They then printed Google street maps to find her new address a short distance away.

But they were arrested a few miles from her home when concerned local residents, suspicious of their damaged car, called the police.

Bradshaw and Liverpool, both of whom denied the charges, were questioned on Cullompton high street. As they were being questioned, officers discovered that Bradshaw did not have a driving licence and arrested him.

It was while searching the men’s Fiat Punto that they found the stash of weapons, including a black-handled samurai sword, three knives, a section of garden hosepipe, two hammers, black gloves and balaclavas. Inside a further holdall was a metal spike, black bags and black tape, as well as printouts of AA routefinder maps from Manchester to Devon.

Robbing and killing

Notes found in the car contained references to robbing, killing and beheading the singer and dumping her body in a river. Another added: “The Queen – she-devil. But she likes Joss Stone. Invited to Will’s wedding by Queen. Where’s the sense in that?”

Inside the one-bedroom flat the men shared, a hand-written diary written by Liverpool also said: “Jocelyn-devil. She devil in flesh. The Queen. She devil/her system take the p… Destroy The Queen’s system.”

His notebooks also listed other musicians such as Dizzee Rascal, Eminem, Beyonce, Craig David, R Kelly, Chris Brown and girl band Girls Aloud.

But during the trial, Bradshaw claimed that he had never heard of the 25-year-old singer until his arrest. He also said that he had believed he was on a day out with his friend.

‘Fantasy’

The court heard from Dr Michael Alcock, a consultant psychiatrist, who said Bradshaw suffered from disorganised schizophrenia and had such a poor concept of time that he believed the alleged murder plot only took place two or three months before.

Bradshaw, who has spent time detained under the mental health act in psychiatric units, also has a low IQ of between 55 and 65.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr Richard Latham, who was called to give evidence by the prosecution, said Bradshaw was well at the time of the plot.

Philip King QC, defending Liverpool, who did not give evidence, described the plot as nothing more than a “bungled fantasy” that was never going to be carried out.

“The simple truth is that you have one, maybe two, people who are incapable, bizarre, deluded incompetents. They were doing nothing other than living out a frightening fantasy,” he told jurors. “It was a frightening fantasy but are you sure he intended real harm to occur in the real world?”

Sentencing of Bradshaw was adjourned.