'Tony's in trouble... he ran two coppers over': Couple in court for helping hit-and-run driver escape

Matthew Merrick pleaded guilty to assisting Anthony Potter after Potter drove a Peugeot 407 over a female officer while fleeing from a burglary at a block of garages in Wolverhampton during the early hours of November 4, 2017.

Potter badly injured the officer's foot and caused her considerable psychological harm before clipping her colleague as he fled the scene of the crime in Westacre Crescent, Finchfield.

He dumped the car nearby and headed for the home of his neighbours Julie and Matthew Merrick in Chelmarsh Avenue, Castlecroft at around 1am.

Julie quickly sent a message to her 45-year-old husband, who was on his way home from work, which said “Tony is in a bit of trouble.”

Six minutes later she added: “He ran two coppers over.”

From Wolverhampton to Bournemouth

Police investigating the crime were in the street outside but she made no attempt to tell them the suspect was in her house, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Mr Simon Phillips, prosecuting, continued: “Mr Merrick returned home and a plan was hatched for Potter to be taken to Bournemouth.”

That was where 50-year-old Georgina Voller, with whom he was in a relationship, lived.

She found bed and breakfast accommodation for him following his call from the Merricks’ address and he was dropped off there at around 5pm the following day.

The following day Merrick was in phone contact with the wanted man discussing the possible destruction of a computer hard drive while his 43-year-old wife tried to get rid of a large tool box stolen in the burglary and checked press reports on the police investigation, the court heard.

But police were soon monitoring their phone calls and were waiting when the Merricks returned to Bournemouth to pick up Potter on November 8.

The trio and Voller, who lived at Stourfield Road, Bournemouth, were all in the car when officers swooped.

Date rape drug

Voller was found to be in possession of £80 worth of GHB, known as the ‘date rape’ drug because it depresses the central nervous system and can be secretly dropped into somebody’s drink.

The three defendants each admitted admitted assisting an offender while Voller further pleaded guilty to possession of drugs with intent to supply.

Both women were of previous good character while Matthew Merrick had a solitary conviction for theft dating back to 1992.

He told the court: "We were not criminals and didn't know how to handle the situation."

His claim to have driven Potter to Bournemouth because he had "a big heart" was dismissed by Judge Barry Berlin who insisted: "This was a concerted effort to help him avoid capture knowing that he had committed a serious offence. It was a well planned exercise."

Matthew Merrick was given a 13-month sentence while his 43-year-old wife was handed a seven-month term suspended for two years.

Voller was sentenced to nine months behind bars, also suspended for two years, and both women were ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work and pay £200 towards the cost of the case.

Potter, aged 50 and from Spur Tree Avenue, Castlecroft, pleaded guilty to assault while resisting arrest, assaulting the second police officer, burglary and dangerous driving.

He was jailed for two years seven months at the same court in December 2017.