Jailed: Wolverhampton couple who drove at victim 'with murderous intent' after bungled drug deal behind bars for over 30 years

Melvin Winters and Josie James, both from Bushbury, who were partners at the time were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday after earlier being convicted at Wolverhampton Crown Court

For the attempted murder, Winters, aged 46,  of Newman Road, Wolverhampton was jailed for 28 years, with an extended licence for four years meaning he will serve 24. 

For  the robbery he was jailed for nine months and possessing the stun gun for eight months, both to run concurrent.

James, aged 32 from Pope Road, Wolverhampton, who had 34 previous convictions for similar offences was jailed for nine years for robbery.

The sentencing was delayed when the families of the two defendants were involved in an altercation outside the court room and James was temporarily ejected and not let back. She was eventually escorted into the courtroom by police officers.

The court heard victim Daniel Nicholls had brought crack cocaine in an arranged deal from Winters and James in Pope Road in The Scotlands, Wolverhampton at around 2.20pm on July 2 last year

After the deal had been completed,  Nicholls asked if he could buy some more on credit, using a gold Belcher chain as security.

But the negotiations went wrong and the couple, with Winters in the driving seat. drove their black Vauxhall Insignia car at him and then went back to run him over again.

Judge John Butterfield KC said Winters and James 'were intent on getting that chain' and Winters 'drove at the victim with murderous intent and James sat back in the car and watched, making no attempt to stop him.'

He said: "The victim suffered serious injuries, some of which he will never recover and his mobility has been seriously compromised and will never be the same. 

"His girlfriend was present and had to watch her partner being run over and it is clear, as the police said that the consequences could have been a lot worse for Mr Nicholls." 

Mr Nicholls was treated for serious injuries to his legs and shoulder by paramedics before he was taken to hospital and found to have three broken ribs and a fractured shoulder.

In a victim impact statement read out before the sentencing he said many people had told him he was lucky to survived such an impact and he had suffered a 25-per-cent reduction in movement ever since including not being able to walk.

The statement said: "I can't stand for any length of time, I have a limp and a scar from my knee down my leg. I have flashbacks and nightmares and when I hear cars revving I fear they are coming for me."

The car was later found abandoned in  nearby Masefield Mews at around 3.05pm the same day and recovered for forensic examinations.

The couple were seen on CCTV buying supplies from a corner shop laughing as if nothing had happened, Judge Butterfield said and later spent a night in a Premier Inn which wasn't booked in their name.

But the pair were quickly identified and three days later, on July 5 were arrested at separate addresses.

They were convicted of the charges after trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court in December last year.

After the trial in December DC Reece Markham, from West Midland Police's Major Crime Unit, said: "Whatever the reason for the argument, using a car as a weapon to injury someone is horrendous and could have resulted in the victim losing their life.

"For the passenger of the car to have seen what happened and then get out to rob the victim as he lay on the ground, without offering him any help, is appalling.

"Despite both of them denying the charges and refusing to take responsibility for their callous actions they have rightly been convicted of this crime."