Because of the lies instructed by Anthony Merriman an harmless man spent 14 hours in police cells
A person falsely accused a buddy of an armed theft as an act of “revenge”, a courtroom has heard. The criticism resulting in a major police investigation and to his mate spending 14 hours locked up in a cell. When Anthony Merriman’s story started to unravel he began mendacity about having a mind harm.
A decide at Swansea Crown Court docket stated the defendant had instructed “malicious lies” and wasted police time, and he instructed the 52-year-old what he had finished had been “depraved”.
Ashanti-Jade Walton, prosecuting, instructed the courtroom that the defendant and a person by the title of Adam Phillips spent the night time of January 8 final 12 months socialising collectively.
Nevertheless shortly after midnight Mr Phillips contacted police to say Merriman had assaulted him.
The courtroom heard that Merriman was arrested and interviewed on January 14 earlier than being launched.
After reviewing the allegation police determined to take no additional motion, and Merriman was instructed of the choice on January 16.
The prosecutor stated on the night of January 16 Merriman dialled 999 to say Mr Phillips and an unknown male had simply robbed him.
She stated the defendant instructed police he had been threatened with a screwdriver, and stated at one level the screwdriver was pointed in direction of his eye. the defendant instructed police cash and medicine had been stolen.
Officers went to Merriman’s home later that night time and took statements from him through which he went into particulars about what had occurred. The courtroom heard he instructed officers that the robbers had threatened him screwdriver, and that the implement had been put into his mouth with Mr Phillips threatening to stab him within the cheek.
The prosecutor stated Merriman instructed the officers he was “shook up” at what occurred and he or she stated he was “visibly shaking on the sofa” whereas talking of the officers. Merriman then described his assailants and described the clothes they had been carrying.
The courtroom heard Merriman then gave the officers what he stated was the screwdriver used within the theft, saying it had been discarded by his attackers and he had recovered it.
The prosecutor stated police then requested Merriman if they might take a swab from his face to attempt to recuperate any DNA from the robbers however he instructed them he had washed his face with bleach.
The prosecutor stated police spoke to Merriman once more on January 17 at Penlan Church and he gave officers an in depth account of what he stated had occurred. The courtroom heard he instructed police he had been biking house after a go to to Townhill when he encountered Mr Phillips and a person he didn’t know.
He stated the boys blocked his path and Mr Phillips shouted aggressively at him whereas the unknown male grabbed the handlebars of his bike. Merriman instructed officers Mr Phillips produced a screwdriver from his pocket and held it “a couple of centimetres from my eyeball” whereas demanding to know what was in his pockets.
The courtroom heard Merriman instructed officers he was “very fearful” and that he “pleaded” with Mr Phillips. He stated his assailant took his pockets, keys and his Pregabalin tablets from his pockets and ordered him to open his mouth earlier than placing the tip of the screwdriver in his mouth and saying: “You might be fortunate I do not stick this by your f****** cheek”.
He stated Mr Phillips then spat in his face. Merriman stated the robbers made off, throwing the screwdriver over a hedge right into a backyard as he went.
Because of what Merriman instructed the officers Mr Phillips was arrested on suspicion of theft. In interview he denied the allegation saying he had been at house on the night of January 16.
He instructed officers he believed the criticism towards him was malicious and had been made due to the earlier report of an assault. For all the most recent courtroom shops signal as much as our crime e-newsletter
The courtroom heard that when police checked CCTV footage from the Jeffreys Court docket flats in Penlan the place Mr Phillips lived it confirmed he had not left his house tackle on the night in query.
The prosecutor stated on February 3 the police went to arrest the defendant over what they now believed to be the false allegation of theft however they might not discover him.
Three days later the defendant phoned the police to say he wished to withdraw his allegation of theft saying “I’m transferring and it’s extra trouble” including “I get trouble up there, getting bullied by everybody”.
The defendant was arrested on February 8 on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
In his subsequent interview Merriman gave officers a ready assertion through which he denied and allegation and maintained his account that he had been robbed. Nevertheless, he stated he had mind harm which meant he had tough recalling occasions, dates and occasions.
He stated he believed he could have been confused over the date of the theft, for which he apologised, and stated he had not deliberately given any incorrect info to the police. He maintained that he was a sufferer.
After the interview the defendant was launched underneath investigation and the courtroom heard police checked his medical data and will discover nothing about him having suffered any mind accidents.
The courtroom heard Mr Phillips spent a complete of 14 hours in police custody following the false allegations whereas the police investigation launched because of the complainant used up not less than 45-hours of police time between taking statements, finishing up interviews, acquiring and viewing CCTV, finishing up house-to home enquiries, acquiring medical data, transcribing telephone calls, and different issues.
The courtroom heard Mr Phillips died in April final 12 months earlier than a vicitm affect assertion might be taken.
Anthony Dean Merriman, Eiddwen Street, Penlan, Swansea, had beforehand pleaded responsible on the day of trial to perverting the course of justice when he appeared within the deck for sentencing.
He has 18 earlier convictions for 23 offences together with seven for theft and kindred offences together with his final conviction being in 2021 for breach of a restraining order.
Decide Paul Thomas KC described Merriman’s actions as “fairly merely depraved” and stated he had made the false allegations as an act of “revenge”. He stated the defendant had instructed “malicious lies” about Mr Phillips which led to him being arrested and which sparked a “wild goose chase” for police and the losing of valuable policing sources.
He famous that Merriman continued to keep up his account even when his story started to unravel after which resorted to mendacity a couple of mind harm.
With a ten% low cost for his responsible plea Merriman was sentenced to 3 years in jail. He’ll serve as much as half the sentence in custody earlier than being launched on licence to serve the rest locally.
