My security was lax until police told me of death plot says Stone

The 25-year-old singer was speaking at the trial of Kevin Liverpool and Junior Bradshaw – who are charged with plotting to rob and kill her before dumping her body in a river in June 2011.

The star admitted she had lax security and only discovered of a plot to kill her when she was visited by the police.

Exeter Crown Court heard the pair, originally from Huddersfield, were arrested a few miles from Miss Stone’s home in mid-Devon, with an arsenal of weapons – including a samurai sword – in the boot of their Fiat Punto.

Miss Stone was at home at the time but said she was only aware of the incident after police contacted her later that day.

She told the court: “Apart from someone (police) coming around to say someone is trying to kill me, it was a really nice day.”

Describing the security arrangements at her home at the time of the alleged plot, Miss Stone – who said she was happy to be referred to in court by her real name, Jocelyn Stoker – said: “I had an alarm but I did not really turn it on very much. I didn’t really have a lock on my door... But I do now.”

The court heard the two defendants were arrested on June 13 2011. They had earlier been spoken to by police in Gloucester after their vehicle was severely damaged when it hit railings and a stationary digger on a slip road the M5 near Bristol.

Officers told the court they did not consider the vehicle able to be driven, and so left it, having spoken to the defendants. One said he looked briefly inside the car, but only spotted “a couple of print-outs”.

The Fell In Love With A Boy singer described her tour diary – detailing dates of when she was at home – as “private”, but said some people wanting to know whether she was at home or not might “put two and two together” with the help of her concert dates.

Local postman Alex Greening, who was on his rounds on the morning of June 13, 2011, said he was approached by two men in an accident-damaged vehicle inquiring about Miss Stone.

Giving evidence, he said how the occupants appeared to be lost, driving at around 10mph, a few miles from Miss Stone’s home.

He said they showed him a photo of Miss Stone – “bigger than a passport photo” – but told them he didn’t know where she lived.

Bradshaw, 32, and Liverpool, 35, both of St Stephen’s Close, Manchester, deny conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to cause GBH and conspiracy to rob.

The trial continues.