‘Mother’s life destroyed’ as drunk driver kills 11-year-old son and partner | United Kingdom | News
A hit-and-run drunk driver has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the deaths of a father and his young son during a tragic joyride. Dean Lowe, 48, and his son Charlie Lowe, 11, were walking leisurely in Rue de Fauvic near Grouville on the Channel Island of Jersey when they were hit by a van driven by Dylan Pounds.
The court heard that Pounds, aged 29, was not only intoxicated following heavy drinking, but was also busy with his mobile phone moments before the incident and had furthermore been discovered that he was transporting cocaine and cannabis. On Monday he received his sentence after being found guilty at Jersey Royal Court in October of causing the deaths of Charlie and Dean by dangerous driving.
Alongside the incarceration, Pounds was handed a 12-year driving ban. The prosecution said that at the time of the collision, which occurred on August 5, 2023, Pounds was reaching a speed of 44 mph, which was 14 mph above the designated speed limit. Additionally, it emerged he had ingested nine pints of lager before the fatal event and did not remain at the scene.
In a heartbreaking victim impact statement during the trial, Ashleigh Le Boutillier, Dean Lowe’s partner and Charlie’s mother, expressed how her existence had been irrevocably blighted by the loss. She said: “No one can begin to understand how my life was destroyed. I struggle to put one foot in front of the other. There is no joy in my life now. My boys were my world . Now I go home in silence, my heart aches at the thought of never seeing their faces again.
Kaye Lowe, the grieving mother and grandmother of the heartbreaking story, said: “I will never be able to hold my Charlie again. I will never celebrate anything again. The rest of my life will be spent to survival. I have nothing left.” live”, reports The Mirror.
In a harrowing post-trial revelation, Detective Constable Alex Le Chevalier read an extract from young Charlie Lowe’s school diary, which movingly stated: “The most inspiring person to me is my father. Your father teaches you throughout your life. Yes, they may yell at you, but they are just trying to help you get through life. Fathers will protect you, whatever the cost. Also the most inspiring person is my mother, they can talk to you when times are tough.
Senior Investigating Inspector David Turnbull reflected on the consequences of the tragedy caused by Dylan Pounds’ reckless actions, saying: “Dylan Pounds’ selfish actions had serious consequences. About Dean and Charlie’s family and friends, about our community and about himself. Drunk driving should never go hand in hand. The risks are simply not worth it. »
Turnbull continued to describe the challenges of the investigation, praising his team and their collaboration with legal authorities to ensure justice, conveying their enduring support to the Lowe family: “This has been a very difficult and thorough investigation. The agents worked extremely hard and closely with the lawyers. Department for presenting strong evidence in court and I would like to thank them for their work. Our thoughts will always be with the family and friends of Dean and Charlie Lowe. »
Despite desperate attempts to save the accident victims in the emergency department, both father and son tragically died the same night. The local community has since been reeling from the loss, having expressed many tributes to Dean and Charlie. Dean, a cherished member of the Jersey Employment Trust (JET) for 17 years and a beloved 24/7 duo musician, was mourned by his colleagues and students. Charlie, a much-loved pupil at St Clement’s Primary School, has also left many people heartbroken.
A JET spokesperson expressed the deep sorrow felt by the organisation, saying: “There was no one more dedicated and passionate than Dean for what he did, helping people with disabilities or from a long-term health problem to finding work.
“It often seemed like he knew everyone in Jersey, and everyone who met him would agree that he was full of life and fun and, at all times, JET’s greatest ambassador. Dean, who works with us since 2006, was an Employee Coordinator and most recently Head of Employer Engagement, working tirelessly to promote our services to employers and build links with businesses and organizations as well as industry bodies such as Digital Jersey, the Jersey Retail Association and Jersey Finance.
“He had recently launched a program aimed at introducing neurodiversity training into companies. We send our sincere love and condolences to Dean’s family and friends. His loss will no doubt be felt throughout our island community due to the nature and dedication of the work he accomplished. undertaken with passion, and he will be greatly missed by all of us.”
Venue manager Avelino Carvalho paid tribute to the musical duo who played at the Dolphin in Gorey the night before the tragedy. He said: “Deano and Tony (who were 24/7) had been playing here for years, and it was a real shock to hear this terrible news. You couldn’t find anyone who was a better artist As Deano, he was so natural with his jokes and his music, and people loved him to bits – he made everyone really happy, and we can’t believe it.”
