07/03/01 - Statement of SPENDIFF-SMITH JASON PAUL

WITNESS STATEMENT
(CJ Act 1967, s.9; MC Act 1980, ss.5A(3) (a) and 5B; MC Rules 1981, r.70)

Statement of: SPENDIFF-SMITH JASON PAUL

Age if under 18: OVER 18 (if over 18 insert 'over 18')

Occupation: UNEMPLOYED

This statement (consisting of 5 page(s) each signed by me) is true to the best of my knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I have wilfully stated anything which I know to be false or do not believe to be true.

Signed: J S SMITH
Date: 07/03/2001

Further to my previous statement I wish to add the following details. The coat which I leant Dean BOSHELL had inside it a ticket with a number on. I think it was 61 or 62 marked on it. The ticket itself is about an inch in length, greenish in colour with a semi circle cut out at the top and a slightly pointed bottom, this came from the job centre at Southend when I was there Monday 26 February 2001 (26/02/2001) looking for work, and is a queing ticket, similar to that used in a supermarket.

I previously mentioned a 'job' earning a £1000 (Thousand Pounds) which Dean had spoken about, and the fact I was asked to go on it, that being to break into a house and steal drug plants.

The 'Job' was in fact arranged by Ricky PERCIVAL, I do not know this personally but was told so by Dean, he also stated that Ricky PERCIVAL along with Dean and his brother were going to do the Job, which was originally planned for Thursday, that being the 22 February 2001 (22/02/2001).

I know that the 'Job' was spoken about a couple of weeks before, but on the Wednesday night (21 February 2001) (21/02/2001) he asked again if I would go. I do admit I thought about it, but decided against it, I don't know why it didn't happen on that day. On Friday 23 rd February 2001 (23/02/2001), sometime during that day Dean said he was going to get a gun from Ricky PERCIVAL, for £250-00 (two hundred and fifty pounds) to take with him on the 'Job'.

We spent the day in the 'Last Post' pub, left around 4-5pm (1600 - 1700) he said to go to work. In my previous statement I made reference to Dean's brother turning up in an Audi convertible car that evening, which was a mistake, he actually turned up on the Sunday evening at the White Horse pub , Sunday being 25 February 2001 (25/02/2001) the rest of the details being correct about who was present on that Sunday (25/2) (25/02/2001).

I remained in the 'Last post' pub with my brother Matthew and 3 friends of his 2 females and 1 male, I don't know their names. I next saw Dean on Saturday (24 February 2001) (24/02/2001), when he was at work. Then the Sunday morning, when he called round to my address around 9.30am (0930). We did as previously stated spend the day in the pubs mentioned, but after Motels went to Deans flat, before going onto the White Horse Pub.

The reason for going to Deans flat was that he said he wanted to show me something, I do not know the address but it is behind the Oriental Express. I went into the flat Dean said "Shut the door" which I did. I then turned to the right where the bed is, as the flat is only one room, and Dean lifted the mattress up. I saw a gun which had been underneath the mattress and 3 (three) bullets.

I would describe the gun as a revolver type handgun which was about 6 or 7 (six or seven) inches in length misty black or grey in colour, and looked dirty or slightly rusty. The barrel was about 2 or 3 (two or three) inches long and the handle was brown and bobbly, the best way to describe it was like a tennis racket grip which was bound in sellotape or something similar.

I could also see the bullets which were gold in colour about 1 (one) inch long but with a silver coloured tip which was slightly flat not pointed. I was surprised to see a gun as I thought it was just talk from Dean. He said to me "Go on make a man of yourself and "Hold it, it's not loaded" I didn't want to touch it, and felt a bit funny seeing it. I said that I was going, so Dean picked the mattress up and put the gun down, putting the mattress back on top, the handle of the gun was still slightly showing.

I have referred in my previous statement to seeing Dean on Tuesday 27 February 2001 (27/02/2001), when I was with him, however I too applied for a crisis loan giving the same reasons as Dean, and was also refused. I remember that late Tuesday afternoon (27 Feb) (27/020/2001) Dean went into the probation office which is in Southchurch Road he said as we were passing Virgin Superstore in the High Street "I've not been to Probation for ages" so we walked down there.

I would say Dean was in there for only a few minutes before coming out, we then returned home. The rest of the statement is correct other than the fact that I said Dean was going to be picked up by the Kursall to do the job, he actually said "LidIs" which is a supermarket near the Kursall.

He also asked me at some point when talking about the job if I could drive, which I said I could not, but took it that he wanted me to drive on the Job. When he spoke about stealing the plants he said about "Chucking them in the van til it was full up" which said to me there was a lot of plants to take. The reason I have added this statement is to cover a couple of mistakes in the first one, but mainly because I've been warned and scared about what I know and wanted to get if off my chest.

Signed: J S SMITH

Signature Witnessed by: DC2312 NEWBURY 2004(1)