A pensioner attacked as he set off to collect his grandchildren from school felt "let down" after police arrested him thanks to the lies of a violent drug addict.
Renee Weaver, 41, jumped into the victim's car as it reversed off his driveway on a street off Sheil Road, Kensington, on January 29 last year. The convicted robber punched the victim, who the ECHO has chosen not to name, repeatedly before scrabbling around in his pockets, swiping cash and his phone, and threatening to smash his head in with a glass bottle.
Astonishingly, it was the pensioner who was arrested after Weaver, of Vulcan Street in the city centre, lied to officers claiming she was a sex worker and he had assaulted her after refusing to pay up for a sex act.
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Merseyside Police handcuffed the stunned grandad only to realise he was in fact the victim. Liverpool Crown Court heard the pensioner felt "let down by the people who are supposed to protect us" after the incident on January 29 last year, off Sheil Road in Kensington.
In a devastating twist, the victim suffered a stroke while Weaver was awaiting trial for robbery, meaning he was too unwell to give evidence, leading to the CPS agreeing to accept pleas to the lesser offences of theft and common assault.
In a harrowing victim personal statement, written before the stroke, he said: "I am also emotionally upset as I had to endure personal embarrassment as this all took place outside my home address. I was arrested, hand-cuffed and placed in the back of a police vehicle in plain sight of my friends and neighbours even though I had done nothing wrong.
"My car and clothing was taken from me and I was left with no transport that I use daily to get my grandchildren to school. My car was not returned to me and I had to travel to St Helens to get it. On picking up my car the windscreen was damaged with part of the trim missing.
"I now feel let down by the people who are supposed to protect us and I am not sleeping as a result of this entire experience."
The ECHO asked Merseyside Police about the comments read in court. A spokesperson said: "We understand the traumatic impact this type of arrest can have on the victim who was later de-arrested at the scene and our officers are continuing to support him throughout this case.
"The victim explained to the court that his clothes and car were taken from him after the incident. Whilst we acknowledge the great inconvenience this can have on anyone when going about their daily routine these were taken so that our officers could gain vital evidence and convict 41- year-old Renee Weaver.
"We hope this result shows the despicable actions of Weaver who was rightfully bought to justice before the courts this week.
"Specialist police officers from our Unity team also work side-by-side with a number of partners including Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) and the Red Umbrella Project which combats violence and crimes committed against anyone in the sex industry and prevents further offending."
Sarah Griffin, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court on Monday how Weaver shouted: "I’m going to call the police and tell them you’ve made me give you [a sex act]." She then snatched his phone and grabbed a £5 note from his jacket pocket, before threatening to "smash his head in" with a glass bottle.
The police were called and found Weaver with the pensioner's phone. She was crying and falsely claimed she had "provided sexual favours" to the victim and that he had underpaid her and assaulted her.
When Weaver was arrested and interviewed, she initially stuck to her story for a short time before claiming she could not remember events clearly due to being drunk and on drugs.
The court heard Weaver had an "unenviable record" of 15 convictions for 25 offences, including for stealing from an elderly man who relied on two walking sticks and spitting in a police officer's mouth.
John Rowan, defending, said: "The main problem in her adult life has been her addiction to Class A drugs. Class A drugs have had a massive impact on Miss Weaver both in terms of her mental health and in relation to her physical health.
"There have been times when she has been able to address her drug use and come off drugs, but those have been for a short time."
Judge Anil Murray, sentencing, said: "You have got a long term drug problem. You have told me you want to sort it out, I hope you do because you will just face longer and longer sentences."
Weaver was jailed for 10 months, and told she would serve half in custody before being automatically released on licence.
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