A Spalding man who was allegedly involved in a pursuit which led to the death of his friend said “it wasn’t meant to be a car chase.”
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 both deny conspiring with Burlton to cause actual bodily harm to McMullon between November 22 and 25, 2023.
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.
During his police interviews Biggs said he tried to put Burlton off and told Jonhson to drop back when the Insignia was behind McMullon’s Touran.
“It was Sean that wanted to have it out with him (McMullon) not me,” Biggs explained.
“Then all of a sudden we were in the car behind,” Biggs said. “I told Sam (Johnson) to stop.
“It wasn’t meant to be a car chase, I don’t think anyone meant it to be a chase.”
Biggs added: “I was trying to put Sean off.”
Biggs said he was not aware of any weapons and had been called boring by other members of the group.
When asked why he got in the Insignia, Biggs said he was looking out for his friends.
“I was scared what might happen if someone responsible wasn’t there,” Biggs explained.
“I didn’t have a role, I was just trying to look out for everyone,” Biggs added.
Jurors heard there was an ongoing dispute between McMullon and Gratton, 31, of West Parade, Spalding, over custody visits.
Prosecutors allege McMullon was followed by the Focus and Insignia after leaving a contact visit centre in Spalding on the afternoon of November 24, 2023.
Police interviews with Gratton were also read to the jury.
She explained: “I didn’t even know it happened until I got a phonecall from his dad to say he had died.”
Gratton said Burlton had spent two hours outside her home with his mates the previous night after they believed McMullon had visited and knocked on her windows.
The court heard McMullon was prevented from contacting Gratton by a non-molestation order.
Gratton said she tried to do things the right way by contacting the police.
“I was clueless, knew nothing,” Gratton said.
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.
Emergency services attended the crash scene
Firefighters freed Burlton from the vehicle but he had stopped breathing. A post-mortem confirmed he had drowned.
The trial continues.
