Mother of Rhys Jones' killer loses her home after court hearing

The jailed mother of Rhys Jones's killer lost her home today after a judge granted a possession order to her landlord.

Janette Mercer, 50, was locked up for three years in April for lying to detectives investigating the 11-year-old schoolboy's murder in Liverpool in August 2007.

Her son, Sean Mercer, 19, had earlier been given a life sentence after being convicted of the shooting following a three-month trial.

Following a week-long hearing at Liverpool County Court, social landlord Riverside Housing was granted permission to take possession of their house within the next two weeks.

It means Mercer and her family will never be able to return to live at the property in Good Shepherd Close, Croxteth, Liverpool.

Paul Burns, for Riverside Housing, had told Judge Graham Platts of the impact of Rhys's death on the local community.

Mr Burns said: "The murder of Rhys Jones not only produced outrage and upset in the community but also national public dismay."

He added that neighbours suffered from "threatening and abusive conduct" at the hands of Janette Mercer and her children, and said one family was forced from its home next door after persistent harassment.

Mr Burns said gang-related anti-social behaviour had centred around the house and reminded the judge of Janette Mercer's role in hindering the murder investigation.

Mercer, who represented herself, had challenged Riverside's application but did not attend the court hearings.

In letters to Judge Platts she complained she was being "treated unfairly" and she was "very upset" about the allegations of anti-social behaviour.

Giving his verdict, Judge Platts said no remorse was shown in Janette Mercer's letters and he had "no hesitation" in finding Riverside's case was proven.

Judge Platts said: "I find it is reasonable to enable a possession order to be obtained by Riverside Housing.

"In the circumstances of this case, enough is enough."

After the hearing Tom McGuire, divisional director of Riverside, said:
"We take a zero tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour and criminal acts within our communities. In this case a series of complaints were recorded against the family.

"It is our duty as a responsible landlord to act on these complaints to improve the quality of life for our tenants."

Earlier this week, Janette Mercer lost an appeal against her sentence.

Her family now has 14 days to empty the house before Riverside takes possession.

The landlord will then prepare it to be re-let.