PC Dave Phillips’ killer will spend the next 20 years behind bars after he was today convicted of his manslaughter.
Clayton Williams was acquitted of the Merseyside Police officer’s murder by a jury at Manchester Crown Court following the incident in the early hours of October 5 last year.
The 18-year-old was driving a stolen Mitsubishi pick-up truck as it careered into PC Phillips, killing the on-duty father-of-two instantly.
Jurors acquitted Williams of the attempted grievous bodily harm of the fallen officer’s colleague PC Tom Birkett but found him guilty of aggravated vehicle taking and burglary in addition to the manslaughter of PC Phillips.
He was sentenced to 20 years for the combined charges in a Young Offenders’ Institute.
Detective Superintendent Richie Carr said: “We welcome the verdict and hope that it will give some closure to PC Phillips’ family, but ultimately nothing can bring him back and his family are still struggling to come to terms with his loss.
“PC Phillips was just 34-years-old, he was married to Jen and was a loving and doting dad to his daughters Abigail, 7, and three-year-old Sophie. He had everything to live for, but that was taken from him by Clayton Williams in the early hours of 5 October and now his families will be serving their own life sentence.”
He added: “Following the murder and subsequent media appeals the investigation team was flooded with calls from members of the public who called with information which they thought may help bring the offender to justice and I would like to thank them, and the media, for their assistance with the investigation.
“This is a truly tragic event that has affected many people and I like to take the opportunity to thank the investigation team for the professionalism they have shown throughout this case. Murder investigations are always difficult, as there is always a human cost, and our officers are fully aware of that, but when a murder investigation involves a colleague it can make it more difficult.
“It is vital that the investigation remains impartial and objective to maintain the integrity of the case and the team have managed to do this throughout. I would also like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service and our prosecution team for all of their support throughout this difficult and challenging investigation.”
Five other people, who previously pleaded guilty to charges in relation to the case, have also been sentenced today.
Phillip Stuart, 30, was sentenced to six years in prison for aggravated unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle and burglary.
Dawn Cooper, 34, was sentenced to one year in prison for assisting an offender. Georgia Clarke, 19, and Michael Smith, 19, were sentenced to one year in a Young Offender Institution for assisting an offender