Potts was convicted of the murder of both his parents, Leonard and Mabel on 17th June 1945, at their home in Chester Road, Poynton. Potts was in charge of a local Army Cadet group, and was keen to take up a career in the armed forces, which his father disagreed with. On returning home from a night out, he had a further argument with his father as he was late home. Potts had been allowed to bring home various weapons from his Cadet base, including a sten gun and ammunition, which he used to shoot his parents when they were in bed. He then fininshed them off with a hammer.
Too young to be sentenced to death, he was sentenced to be detained until the pleasure of his majesty be known