Two men found guilty in Joss Stone murder plot

Kevin Liverpool, 35, and Junior Bradshaw, 32, harboured a deep hatred of the British soul star, Exeter Crown Court in Devon heard.

They were found guilty of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to rob, following a three-week trial.

Liverpool was given a life sentence – with a minimum term of ten years and eight months – while his co-defendant awaits sentencing.

Speaking after the hearing, the 25-year-old star, who is also an actress, said she was relieved the pair “are no longer in a position to cause harm to anyone”.

Judge Francis Gilbert QC, the Recorder of Exeter, described Liverpool as “a danger to the public” and said he targeted Miss Stone in order to get more than £1 million from her.

He 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.

“You had no reason to target her, except that she was a wealthy young woman as she was a successful singer.

“You assumed, as she was a friend of the Royal Family, she would be able to give you money.

“It may have been, to use the colloquial, ‘a crazy scheme from a crazy person and must be likely to fail’, but when you decided to travel from Manchester to Devon, you intended to carry it out.”

The defendants, both of Longsight, Manchester, stood expressionless as the jury foreman returned the verdicts after just four hours’ deliberations.

Miss Stone, who had taken to the witness stand to tell jurors of the lax security at her home, spoke of her relief after the trial.

“I’d like to thank everyone for all their support and kind wishes,” she said. “I am relieved the trial is now over and that these men are no longer in a position to cause harm to anyone.”

Her mother, Wendy Joseph, who had attended the trial every day, added: “Joss and myself and indeed our whole family are relieved the trial is now over.”

Detectives said it had been a “long and difficult investigation”. Superintendent Steve Parker, of Devon and Cornwall Police, added: “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.

“I would also like to highlight the professionalism and quick thinking of the attending officers … whose actions foiled the defendants’ plan.

“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 being uncovered.”

The court heard the two accused had driven from Manchester to Miss Stone’s home in mid-Devon with an arsenal of weapons to rob and kill her.

In bizarre notes written by Liverpool, the plan involved beheading her due to her links to the Royal Family.

The duo had scouted Miss Stone’s home and were on their way to attack her, armed with the sword, three knives, two hammers, masks, gloves and a hosepipe, when they were arrested in June 2011.

The pair told police they were lost and were trying to get to Bristol, but officers became wary and quickly discovered the cache in the boot.

A search of the one-bedroom flat that Bradshaw and Liverpool shared in Manchester also recovered a self-cocking crossbow and a BB gun (a type of airgun).

Bradshaw will be sentenced at a later date, following the preparation of reports.

The judge said he was considering passing a hybrid sentence, meaning he would receive a custodial sentence, but would most likely serve it in a secure psychiatric unit.