Terror-ride lovers locked up over ordeal at Sandwell Valley

Roy Watson took his ex-partner to Sandwell Valley before subjecting her to the ordeal.

Watson's new girlfriend, Kate Slater, was driving, said Mr Edward Soulsby, prosecuting. He added that Watson handcuffed his victim to a fence and hit her before putting the gun, which she had no idea was a fake, in her mouth.

Watson made as if to pull the trigger before removing the gun, pistol whipping her, butting her and kneeing her in the face.

The 25-year-old defendant, of no fixed address, then led her back to the Renault Megane driven by Slater, where he told his victim to put gloves on and not to get blood anywhere.

The victim was so scared she would be killed she started pulling her own hair out and dropping it on the seats to leave DNA.

Mr Soulsby said Watson was angry because he had loaned his ex money to take out a loan and he thought she could not pay him back quickly when the transaction was refused. Slater remained in the car during the beating.

Their victim had only agreed to get into the car with him and Slater, of Penncricket Lane, Oldbury, after a threatening note was dropped off at her mother's home. Watson had dictated it for Slater, aged 21, to write, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard on Thursday.

The woman's ordeal followed an attempted robbery earlier the same day. Watson went into Bal's News in Dangerfield, Darlaston, showed the owner the fake gun and demanded a gold chain and cash from the till.

The owner, however, chased him away with a plank of wood and Slater drove the getaway car, Mr Soulsby said.

Watson was sentenced to nine years for the attempted robbery last September, as well as for forcing the fake gun into the mouth of his former partner, causing actual bodily harm and falsely imprisoning her. He was also sentenced for robbing a Birmingham taxi driver of his mobile phone and cash last July.

Slater, of previous good character, was given four years detention at a young offenders institution, as she was 20 at the time of the offences, for her role in the attempted robbery and the false imprisonment of Watson's ex-partner. She was found guilty after a trial.

Mr Matthew Barnes, defending Watson, who pleaded guilty on the eve of his trial, said he had written to Judge John Warner to 'express his deep shame and remorse', and he had made progress since he was taken into custody last December.

Passing sentence, Judge Warner told Watson: "Your victim said she was terrified. She said she was scared she was going to be killed."

To Slater, he added: "I am satisfied you were under the influence and domination of your co-accused. This is truly sad."