A lying mum has started a nine month sentence after covering up her sons' crimes for a second time.
Janette Mercer was previously locked up for three years back in 2009 for perverting the course of justice, having lied to detectives investigating the murder of Rhys Jones. Son Sean Mercer, then aged 16, shot and killed the 11-year-old in August 2007.
Mercer was imprisoned again at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, February 6, after helping another of her children, Joseph Mercer, to remain at large while he was wanted for dealing drugs. The now 63-year-old allowed the fugitive to live with her while misleading the police over his whereabouts.
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Charlotte Kenny, prosecuting, told the court that his mother "knew he was wanted by police" 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 with a minimum term of 22 years.
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 took 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. 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: “You are 63 years of age and you fall to be sentenced for an offence of assisting an offender over a six-month period. You pleaded guilty at what I consider to have been the first opportunity in the crown court, you will receive 25 per cent credit.
“You have, in these proceedings, been assessed by four highly qualified psychiatrists - all of whom are satisfied with the diagnosis of PTSD. Some of that, you have brought upon yourself.
"You went to prison in 2009, and the consequences have I’m sure been profound. I’m satisfied you were suffering from complex PTSD at the time of the commission of this offence.
“You have pleaded guilty on the basis of an abusive relationship you endured. The prosecution is content with your basis of plea.
“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 Joseph Mercer. On several occasions, police made enquiries at your home as to his whereabouts.
“You told the police you only spoke to him occasionally on the telephone and had been urging him to hand himself in. When the police saw you in July 2019, you were extremely anxious.
“In December 2019, the police came knocking and you didn’t answer. Into 2020, police had intelligence that Joseph was spending significant periods of time in your house if not living there.
“All of that took the police back to your house on June 13, 2020. He had evidently been living there, spending time at your house or at a hotel in the city centre.
“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.
“This strikes at the heart of the criminal justice system, and the public needs to know that prison will follow. Your culpability is reduced because you were at the time of the offence suffering from a disorder in the form of complex PTSD.
“The effect of Joseph’s behaviour on you has been demonstrated to this court. Of course your offence is aggravated by your previous conviction for perverting the course of justice in 2009.
“From all I have read, the two stand in stark contrast. The offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence is appropriate.
“That is a sentence which is capable of being suspended. There are some offences, and this is one, that are so serious that they cannot be suspended.”
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