The mum of Rhys Jones' killer has been jailed for a second time after helping to cover her sons' crimes.
Janette Mercer was locked up for three years in 2009 after lying to detectives investigating the horrific murder of 11-year-old Rhys in Liverpool. Her son Sean Mercer, then aged 16, shot and killed him in August 2007.
He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years. Yesterday (February 6), the mum was jailed again after helping another one of her children Joseph Mercer to remain at large while he was wanted for dealing drugs, the Liverpool Echo reports.
READ MORE: Dad jailed over 'terrifying' knife attack on teen he blamed for son's death
She allowed him to live with her while misleading police about where he was, Liverpool Crown Court heard. Charlotte Kenny, prosecuting, told the court that the 63-year-old 'knew her son was wanted' in connection with this offence but allowed him to stay at her home on Daisy Street in Kirkdale during a six-month period in 2019 and 2020 'to impede his apprehension'.
Police attended the address on several occasions while looking for Joseph Mercer during this time, but Janette Mercer claimed she only spoke to her son rarely when he called her on a withheld number. During one visit from officers, she 'presented as being extremely anxious' and was 'having palpitations' but said she did not require an ambulance.
On December 4 2019, PCs knocked on her door on two occasions but received no answer. A dog could be heard barking inside, while the television was on during the second visit.
A PC contacted Mercer by phone on this date, but she stated she 'only spoke to him now and again'. Joseph Mercer was eventually located at the property by the force on June 13 2020, and it was 'evident he had been living there' as well as spending periods at the Malmaison Hotel in Liverpool city centre.
His clothes were located in a wardrobe and his identification was found in a chest of drawers, while a stash of cannabis was also seized from the bedroom where he had been staying. He was imprisoned for 30 months in October 2020, having been caught peddling heroin and crack cocaine from a hotel room in Bournemouth.
The then 25-year-old was locked up after admitting possession of class A drugs with intent to supply. Dorset Police raided the room in January 2017 after receiving reports that a 'suspicious white powder' had been seen inside, with a strong smell of cannabis also emanating from within.
A co-conspirator - who was handed three years behind bars in March 2021 - had been staying in the room but had already packed up and left. His car was then found in the car park of another nearby hotel later the same day.
When officers entered their room at this premises, he and Mercer were found inside with nearly 100 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine plus £1,000 in cash as well as several mobile phones and a set of scales. Janette Mercer's previous involvement with the law came after Rhys Jones was tragically caught in the crossfire of a feud between the Croxteth Crew and the rival Norris Green-based Strand Gang by the Fir Tree pub as he walked home from football training on the summer evening nearly 16 years ago.
Sean Mercer was later unanimously convicted of murder by a jury and jailed for life. His mum tried to cover up a crucial piece of evidence by lying to police in a statement when they asked her about bicycles her son owned or had access to.
He was riding a silver mountain bike when he fired the fatal shot, but Jeanette Mercer claimed he did not own such a bike - instead saying he had only a black, orange and white one. But it was subsequently discovered that she taken delivery of the bike four months earlier when it was sent to the family following an insurance claim.
On the day of her sentencing, she reportedly smiled at friends and family in the public gallery as she was led to the cells by security guards. Today, Mercer was heard sobbing in the dock and dabbed her eyes with a tissue as she was sentenced for her latest lies.
Clare Ashcroft, defending, said that her client had been freed from prison in late 2010 and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder the following year. Ms Ashcroft added: "It’s fair to say a lot has been written about her, because she is a lady of some notoriety.
"The court will be concerned by the commission of this latest offence. It’s a second offence of a similar type to the first.
"It is fair to say what Ms Mercer is charged with and to which she has entered her guilty plea is over a period of some time, about six months, providing accommodation to her son when she knew he was wanted by the police. Ms Mercer was and is of such character - impaired by her mental disorder, her depression, her anxiety and her PTSD - that she was unable to stand back and rationalise what she should do when confronted by the police.
"She had her son manipulating her, whether willfully or otherwise - she simply didn’t have the fortitude to see clearly through the situation." Of her son's arrest, Ms Ashcroft said: "She freely indicated that Joseph had been living there and sleeping in the room, almost as if it was a relief to her.
"That is exactly what it was, it was a relief. She has told me, quite frankly, that there were times when the police spoke to her and she felt she couldn’t tell Joseph because she was frightened of his reaction.
"When she did try and implore him to contact the police he would become abusive, threatening, aggressive and she would simply withdraw." Proceedings were briefly adjourned at one stage as Mercer appeared to begin hyperventilating.
She was given a paper bag to breathe into after saying: "I’m going to pass out. I’m going to faint. I’m going to collapse."
Following a short break, Mercer showed no reaction as she was imprisoned for nine months. Sentencing, Judge David Potter said: "Joseph Mercer is your youngest child. His behaviour towards you was marked with frequent violence.
"The prosecution have disclosed numerous incidents where you had been assaulted and your house had been damaged by uncontrollable outbursts of aggression from him. On several occasions, police made enquiries at your home as to his whereabouts. He had evidently been living there.
“You did lie however, I am satisfied, because you were terrified about what Joseph might do if you had told the truth. Assisting an offender is a serious offence, striking at the heart of the criminal justice system, and the public needs to know that prison will follow."
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