A POLICEWOMAN has told the Echo how she dramatically stopped two men, intent on decapitating Joss Stone, from reaching the singer's home.
The high-profile trial of Kevin Liverpool, 35 and Junior Bradshaw, 32, both of St Stephen's Close, Longsight, Manchester, concluded last week when they were convicted by a jury of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to rob.
Liverpool was given a life sentence and told he would have to serve a minimum jail term of 10 years and eight months before he could be considered for parole.
Judge Francis Gilbert QC, told him: "You intended to rob her and kill her and dump her body in the river, according to your words, and then leave the country with your accomplice Junior Bradshaw."
Bradshaw will be sentenced at a later date.
On conclusion of the case, local officers and members of the community were praised for their efforts in thwarting the two men and potentially saving the life of Miss Stone.
The two defendants had set off from their Manchester home armed with an arsenal of weapons in their car including a Samurai sword, gaffer tape, knives and a hammer. The prosecution argued their intended target was Joss Stone at her home near Ashill and several notes recovered included references to a plot to kill her.
They had been stopped by police earlier in their journey after crashing their car at a service station in Gloucestershire but were allowed to carry on after officers deemed their car too badly damaged to be moved.
And it was members of the public in Cullompton – including postman Alex Greening – who eventually raised concern after the men stopped to ask for directions to the star's home. A call was put out and it was PC Victoria Dixon – on her own in a response car – who eventually found and stopped the car.
PC Dixon told the Express & Echo she did not know the full consequences when she pulled over the Fiat in the town centre.
She said: "The call came out that they had been actively and suspiciously looking at houses in the area.
"I managed to find the car, pulled in behind it, discovered the driver was disqualified and so arrested him.
"It was just a normal stop and check at the time. My colleague then turned up. We did a search and found everything in the car – including all the weapons. It was all seized.
"But it was not until we were on our way to custody and going through the paperwork that we discovered who the intended target was.
"It was a bit scary and is not the normal thing we deal with in Devon.
"At least they were not able to get to Joss – that is the main thing. I am glad they have been put away.
"The whole thing could have been very nasty and could potentially have been a murder. Joss doesn't deserve that.
"Thinking about it later does make you concerned about what could have happened. I didn't expect to pull them over on the main road in the middle of the town centre.
"They seemed fine and like it was an everyday thing. They said 'we have been stopped before' and were very blasé about the whole thing. They thought we were just going to let them go.
"I was shaken up a little bit by what we found. You since think that she could have died, and it brings it all home.
"They were certainly equipped to kill her and it was just surreal. It was an unusual case all around."
Superintendent Steve Parker, who led the investigation, said after the case: "I have no doubt that Liverpool and Bradshaw were intending to harm Miss Stone and it was through the alertness of the public and good police work that we were able to bring this incident to a successful conclusion.
"I would like to thank those members of the public who recognised the suspicious behaviour of Liverpool and Bradshaw and acted positively by calling the police, along with those who have supported the investigation by providing witness statements.
"I would also like to highlight the professionalism and quick thinking of the attending officers who saw through the innocent picture they were presented with and whose actions foiled the defendants' plan.
"I would also like to commend the investigation team who have worked tirelessly on this inquiry, and turned every stone to reveal the evidence hidden beneath in what have at times been extremely trying circumstances.
"Finally, I would like to thank Joss Stone, her family and management for their ongoing support and assistance to the investigation team throughout this investigation, despite the distressing and disturbing nature of the events which were being uncovered."
In a statement after the verdicts, Stone said: "I'd like to thank everyone for all their support and kind wishes.
"I am relieved the trial is now over and that these men are no longer in a position to cause harm to anyone."
