A Spalding woman has denied being involved in an alleged conspiracy to assault her ex-partner, in a case linked to the death of her partner after a car entered a water-filled ditch at Tongue End.
Vanessa Gratton, 32, of West Parade, Spalding, is accused alongside Scott Biggs of conspiring with Sean Burlton to cause actual bodily harm to Richard McMullon between November 22 and 25, 2023. Both deny the allegation.
Lincoln Crown Court heard that Burlton, 28, drowned on November 24, 2023, after the Ford Focus in which he was a passenger left the road and entered a water-filled ditch on Counter Drain Drove.
What prosecutors allege
The prosecution’s case is that the Ford Focus attempted to ram a Volkswagen Touran driven by McMullon, Gratton’s former partner. Prosecutors allege the Focus and a Vauxhall Insignia followed McMullon after he left a contact visit centre in Spalding at about 3pm.
Jurors heard a 999 call made by McMullon as he was allegedly pursued down Counter Drove Drove by the two vehicles. The prosecution alleges the Focus entered the drain after trying to cut up McMullon’s car on a left-hand bend further along Counter Drain Drove.
Bailey Fitzgerald, 29, of Brownlow Crescent, Pinchbeck, is alleged to have been driving the Focus. Max Prior, 21, of London Road, Spalding, was allegedly a passenger, alongside Burlton.
Sam Johnson, 26, of Johnson Avenue, Spalding, is alleged to have been driving the Vauxhall Insignia. The court heard that Sam Clift, 35, of Brownlow Crescent, Pinchbeck, Josh Copnell, 22, of Rose Lane, Pinchbeck, and Biggs, 33, of Spalding Common, Spalding, were passengers in that vehicle.
Evidence from Vanessa Gratton
Giving evidence, Gratton said she had been in a relationship with Burlton for about a month. She told the jury she knew about aggressive messages between Burlton and McMullon, while the court also heard there had been an ongoing dispute between her and McMullon over custody visits.
Gratton denied giving Burlton the location of the contact centre. She said Burlton had been at her home the previous night when they believed McMullon was outside. She told the court there had been banging and that she was frightened.
“We weren’t sure but thought Richard was outside the front door because there was banging,” Gratton explained. “I was scared.”
She said Burlton then looked through the curtain and telephoned a friend before going to the front of the property with others. Gratton told jurors that Burlton appeared angry and that she believed he wanted to confront McMullon.
“I said it was a bad idea because I was in a custody battle,” Gratton added.
Gratton said she reported the incident to police the next day and received two calls from Burlton. She told the court he asked whether McMullon had tools in his car.
Asked by defence barrister John McNally how she felt when she heard what had happened, Gratton replied:
“Heartbroken.”
She maintained that she did not want a confrontation to take place and had not helped Burlton with his alleged plan.
Trial continues
During cross-examination, prosecution barrister Gordon Aspden KC suggested that Gratton had been angry about her treatment by McMullon and knew Burlton was looking for him that day. Gratton denied both suggestions.
“You knew he (Burlton) was looking for Richard that day?”
Gratton replied:
“No.”
The allegations have not been proved. The trial at Lincoln Crown Court is continuing.
