Susan Carter's spell in prison

In 1993 Susan was sent to prison for six months. Her crime was harbouring an escaped prisoner, her younger brother Clive Horrobin.

Clive had been doing porridge and then one summer night, while Neil was away with work, he turned up on the doorstep. Susan tried to get Clive to give himself up but he refused. She gave him food and money, and let him sleep on the floor.

Clive showed his gratitude by telling her that if she went to the police he’d tell them she helped him which would land her in jail as well. So, when the police came calling to see if Susan knew anything about Clive’s whereabouts, she kept quiet.

"Get out and get lost"

It wasn’t long before Clive was back and in need of money. Susan hurriedly cashed her child benefit for him. When she returned home she found he’d been through her things and found the money she and Neil had saved for a day out for their children, Emma and Chris. He took it all. Susan told him to get out and get lost.

By September, Susan had lent her brother so much money she was unable to pay the electricity bill. The stress of it all made her nervous and emotional and she risked the job she had at the time in the Estate office.

One evening, Clive paid Susan yet another visit. He told her if he went back to prison he would kill himself. Susan must help him. He wanted to get to London where he had a friend but he needed money. Meanwhile, Neil returned from work early and he overheard Clive giving Susan his friend’s address in London.

The next day Neil left an anonymous message with the police, tipping them off that Clive was at the address he had overheard.

Susan came clean to Neil about how much she had been helping Clive. She hadn’t wanted to involve him and put him at risk of being in trouble with the law.

Guilty plea

Clive stayed on the run for another month but then Susan got word that he’d been caught and arrested. A week later, Susan was arrested for harbouring an escaped criminal.

At Susan and Clive's joint trial on 23rd December 1993, Susan pleaded guilty. Guy Pemberton appeared as a character witness for her and she hoped she would avoid a custodial sentence. Nevertheless, Susan was sent down for six months. The next day, Christmas Eve, Neil visited her in prison. She told him to make Christmas as normal as possible for the kids.

Clive got six years for the robbery and 12 months for escaping, which he served concurrently. The last we heard of Clive was in 2013 when The Echo reported he’d been sent back to prison for another four years.