A Spalding woman today (Thursday) denied being involved in a conspiracy to assault her ex-partner which ended in a fatal car crash.
Sean Burlton, 28, drowned after the car he was a passenger in left the road and entered a water filled ditch on Counter Drain Drove, in Tongue End, on November 24, 2023.
Prosecutors allege Burlton was in a Ford Focus that had tried to ram a VW Touran being driven by his girlfriend’s ex-partner, Richard McMullon.
Jurors at Lincoln Crown Court have heard a 999 call made by McMullon as he was allegedly pursued down Counter Drove Drain by the Focus and a Vauxhall Insignia.
The prosecution allege the Focus went into the water-filled drain after attempting to cut up McMullon’s car on a left-hand bend further up Counter Drain Drove.
Burlton’s partner, Vanessa Gratton, and Scott Biggs, who was a passenger in the Insignia, both deny conspiring with Burlton to cause actual bodily harm to McMullon between November 22 and 25, 2023.
Giving evidence Gratton told the court she had been in a relationship with Burlton for about a month and that she was aware of aggressive messages between him and McMullon.
Jurors heard there was an ongoing battle between Gratton, 32, of West Parade, Spalding, and her ex-partner, McMullon, over custody visits.
Prosecutors allege McMullon was followed by the Focus and Insignia after he left a contact visit centre in Spalding at around 3pm.
But in her evidence Gratton insisted she did not give Burlton the location of the contact centre.
Gratton told the jury Burlton had been at her home the previous night when they believed McMullon was outside.
“We weren’t sure but thought Richard was outside the front door because there was banging,” Gratton explained. “I was scared.”
“Sean got up and went to look at the curtain. He then rang his friend.
“He went down the front with his friends to have a look.”
Gratton said Burlton appeared angry and she thought 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 the police the following day and received a couple of calls from Burlton.
“He was asking me if Richard had tools in his car,” Gratton explained.
Defence barrister John McNally asked Gratton:
“How did you feel about what happened when you heard?”
Gratton replied: “Heartbroken.”
Gratton insisted she did not want any confrontation to happen and did not help Burlton with his plan.
Under cross-examination from prosecution barrister Gordon Aspden KC, Gratton denied that she was angry over her treatment from McMullon.
Mr Aspden suggested to Gratton: “You knew he (Burlton) was looking for Richard that day?”
Gratton replied: “No.”
The jury heard Bailey Fitzgerald, 29, of Brownlow Crescent, Pinchbeck, was driving the Focus and Max Prior, 21, of London Road, Spalding, was a passenger, along with Burlton.
Sam Johnson, 26, of Johnson Avenue, Spalding, was driving the Vauxhall Insignia, which was allegedly also following McMullon’s car.
The court heard Sam Clift, 35, of Brownlow Crescent, Pinchbeck, Josh Copnell, 22, of Rose Lane, Pinchbeck, and Biggs, 33, of Spalding Common, Spalding, were passengers in the Insignia.
The trial continues.
