Mother who gave killer a false alibi is jailed

A mother has been jailed for two years after lying her murderer son was 'at home' with her on the night a Preston dad was killed.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th May 2016, 07:10 GMT
Updated 18th May 2016, 09:26 GMT
Allison Threlfall, 44, of Fell View, Chorley, was jailed for 27 months for providing the false information, along with an unrelated burglary, relating to her son Owen Whitesmith, who was convicted or murdering Jon-Jo HightonAllison Threlfall, 44, of Fell View, Chorley, was jailed for 27 months for providing the false information, along with an unrelated burglary, relating to her son Owen Whitesmith, who was convicted or murdering Jon-Jo Highton
Allison Threlfall, 44, of Fell View, Chorley, was jailed for 27 months for providing the false information, along with an unrelated burglary, relating to her son Owen Whitesmith, who was convicted or murdering Jon-Jo Highton


Allison Threlfall, 44, of Fell View, Chorley, pleaded guilty to providing her son Owen Whitesmith with a false alibi on the night of 18-year-old Jonjo Highton's murder in August 2014.

He was later found guilty of murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to serve a minimum of 27 years.

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She was also sentenced to three months for a burglary offence at Liverpool Crown Court.

Jonjo HightonJonjo Highton
Jonjo Highton

After the case Brett Gerrity, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “At the centre of this case is the tragic death of an 18 year old man who was brutally killed in a gang attack.
“Allison Threlfall claimed that her son was at home in his bedroom at the time the murder was committed.

"However during the murder trial evidence was heard which proved that not only was he not where she claimed he was at that time, but he had in fact played a crucial part in organising and carrying out the attack.
“When later challenged by the police as to the accuracy of her original statement, she then claimed she had made a mistake by getting the times mixed up, even though it had only been a matter of a few hours between the time of the murder and the time that the police spoke to her.

"By carrying out this misguided act of loyalty to her son, she in fact attempted to divert police attention away from him which could have potentially jeopardised the investigation.
“On the day the trial was due to start, she finally admitted she had deliberately committed an act with intent to pervert the course of justice.
“This case send out a clear message to those who wish to provide false information to the police, we take these offences extremely seriously and will work tirelessly to bring those who commit such offences before the courts.”