02/03/01 - Statement of SPENDIFF-SMITH JASON PAUL
WITNESS STATEMENT
(CJ Act 1967, s.9; MC Act 1980, ss.5A(3) (a) and 5B; MC Rules 1981, r.70)
Statement of: SPENDIFF-SMITH JASON PAUL
Age if under 18: OVER 18 (if over 18 insert 'over 18')
Occupation: UNEMPLOYED
This statement (consisting of 9 page(s) each signed by me) is true to the best of my knowledge and belief and I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I have wilfully stated anything which I know to be false or do not believe to be true.
Signed: J SPENDIFF-SMITH
Date: 02/03/2001
About 8 months ago I met a girl called Stacey HARRIS in Tots nightclub. I started seeing her as my girlfriend soon after this. Staying with Stacey at the time was a girl called Charlotte TAYLOR.
Through my relationship with Stacey she introduced me to two males called Paul and Jessie who live in Temple Court, Southend. Both Paul and Jessie were heroin users and because I have never been involved in drugs, I did not really get on with them. Whilst 1 was at Stacey's Paul introduced me to a person called Dean BOSHELL.
I was aware that Dean and Paul had been in prison together. Dean did not appear to be a user of heroin and we got on very well and started going out together for drinks. This would have been about 2 months ago. Dean told me a little about his past that the fact he had been in prison and had stolen cars before.
He said that he had a job working in the Oriental Express restaurant on Southend Sea Front. About a month ago I moved into a flat on the Kersal Estate with Charlotte TAYLOR. Charlotte had just got the flat for herself and I needed a place to stay, as Stacey's boyfriend had been released from prison.
Dean then started to come to my new address to see me and Charlotte. We would go out for drinks together quite regularly, just me and Dean. Our normal pub was "The Last Post" in Clifton road, Southend. Dean worked mainly nights from about 4pm (1600) - 4am (0400) and would come round after work some times with pizza's. At the beginning of last week we were all out together drinking when Dean asked me if I wanted to go on a job with him and earn about £1,000 (One thousand pounds).
I was obviously suspicious and asked him what the "job" was. I cannot remember exactly his words but he said that he and his brother were going to break into a house in Westcliff and steal a load of drug plants. He said that the house was surrounded by fields and it would have to be done in the pitch black.
He then mentioned that the people who owned the house were "Not very nice and not from around here". I assumed from that they were foreigners. Dean told me that he knew that the people were going to be away out of the house at the time. Dean said he would be getting at least £2,500 (Two thousand five hundred pounds) payment for the "job".
All the time I knew Dean he really only ever had three people calling him on his phone. One was a girl who he said was his girlfriend who works in the "Frying Pan" chip shop in Southchurch road. The other was a person who he referred to as his "Brother", I never met this person and Dean said he had a lot of brothers, which I assumed was his family.
The third person was a male he told me was Ricky PERCIVAL, whom he called "Rick" on the phone. This person was regularly calling Dean and he called him a mate. In relation to this break in he had talked about, Dean said that "My mate" has organised it and was getting a cut. I assumed he meant "Rick" because it was the only mate I knew he had.
I told Dean I was not interested in going with him because I have not been in trouble before and did not want to get involved in anything illegal. Dean said the job was planned for that Thursday night and asked me then to cover him at work. I told him that I couldn't cover him because I was going out.
For some reason the job didn't happen last Thursday, I don't know why, but I met Dean for a drink last Friday at the White Horse pub on Southchurch boulevard , also there was Dean's girlfriend. At some point during the evening Dean got a call on his mobile phone from his brother, the one he allways spoke to.
He said he was just popping outside to meet him to get some money from him and make sure the job was still on. I assumed he was talking about the break in. Dean came back in about 5 or 10 minutes later and sat down. He said something like "I love my brother" and got some money out of his pocket.
He said the the job was still on and also told me to look at his brothers car which was really nice. He said it was an Audio Convertible red in colour and indicated it as a red Audi convertible pulled out of the pub car park. I could not see the driver but there was a blonde female in the passenger seat and I think a little girl in the rear.
When his girlfriend had got up to go to the toilet Dean told me the job was going to be on Tuesday night coming. On Sunday 25th February 2001 (25/02/2001) Dean came round to the flat and we went out to a few pubs in Southend from about 11am (1100). Stacey joined us initially but we left her in one of the pubs.
We went in the "Last Post", the "Green Door" and "Motels". I got back home about 8pm (2000) that night. I did not see Dean on Monday 26th February 2001 (26/02/2001) as he was at work untill 4am (0400) early Tuesday morning the 27th February 2001 (27/02/2001).
Dean came round to the flat after work and stayed with me untill he got up to go to the Social Office about 9.30am (0930). Dean went in to apply for a crisis loan in order to get some money as he was skint. Whilst in there we saw Charlotte and Stacey come in with Stacey's boyfriend Alex STEVENS.
Dean was refused the money and we left together and went down to the Abbey National so I could get some cash from the hole in the wall machine. This was about 10.45am (1045). I had no money in the account so we went to the job centre and I signed on and then returned to the Social to see if they would give me any money but they wouldn't.
From here me and Dean went back to my flat and Charlotte was in with her boyfriend Steve and Stacey's 3 children were there. Dean had mentioned during the day that today was the day for the break in. At some point Paul from Temple court turned up with another male who I recognised from Great Wakering. I do not know this persons name.
About 6pm (1800) Charlotte and Steve left the flat followed shortly by Paul and his mate. About 8pm (2000) Stacey's brother CJ arrived and collected the three children. Me and Dean then watched TV and he fell asleep during the "Brit Awards". Prior to this, just after the children had gone. Dean said to me that he had to wear dark clothing for doing the break in, and asked me if I would lend him some.
I sorted out for him my "Kickers" dark blue Puffa jacket which had cream colour down the arms. I also gave him a pair of blue jogging bottoms and a pair of Adidas trainers. Dean then left the flat saying he was going home to get changed and would get something to eat About 15 minutes later he came back wearing my adidas trainers, a pair of black combat trousers, which he had been wearing all day, my blue jogging bottoms were worn over the combat trousers. he also had on a grey jumper which he had been wearing during the day, and my Puffa jacket.
Deans shoes were a pair of black "Kickers" but I did not see them . Also Dean had an Orange jacket which was left in the flat. Prior to falling asleep he told me he was expecting his brother to phone and not to answer the call but to wake him up. About 8.45 pm (2045) his mobile rang and I nudged Dean awake.
I heard him speaking and asking "What time are you meeting me" and the time 9pm (2100) was mentioned. After he finished the call, Charlotte came in and Dean got up to leave saying his brother was picking him up, by the Kursal. I asked him if he was going to stay tonite, meaning my flat, and he replied "Yes". Dean then left the flat with his phone, but his orange jacket was left on the chair. That was the last time I saw Dean.
I did not speak to him since then and found out about his death early today from a newspaper. I have in the meantime been wearing Dean's orange jacket and found his Birth Certificate and flat keys in the pockets. Dean was living in a bedsit by the "Orient Express" restaurant where he worked. His mobile phone was a Nokia, colour black which was on the "Orange" network. The number was 07890 300108.
One other thing Dean said about the break in , was that it would take two days to get all the plants out and they would sell them straight away .
Signed: J SPENDIFF-SMITH
Signature Witnessed by: 2004(1)
