A drink driver who caused the death of a 'truly wonderful' wife, mother, grandmother and daughter in a horrific crash in west Dorset - then lied about it - has been jailed.

Shane Bovey, 41, travelled from Lyme Regis at speeds of nearly 70mph in a stolen Mercedes before fatally hitting 48-year-old Nicole Bowden in Main Road, Mosterton, at about 8pm on February 8. 

The speed limit in the village is 30mph.

He also seriously injured two other pedestrians, Emily Fox-Williams, aged 24 at the time, and an 11-month-old in the crash along the A3066.

He then hid in a garden for three hours in a bid to evade police.

Bovey, of Monmouth Road, Yeovil, was sentenced by judge His Honour William Mousley KC at Bournemouth Crown Court today (Tuesday, May 2), who called Bovey a 'selfish' and 'cowardly' individual. 

The court heard that Bovey smelt of alcohol after the crash and was abusive towards those who tried to help him as he attempted to flee the scene before being caught by police.

Prosecuting, Kerry Maylin said the incident 'rocked' the small village of Mosterton and houses nearby were 'shaken' by the impact of the collision.

Bovey, described as a man with a 'terrible criminal background' including 44 previous convictions, was clocked travelling into the village, which has a speed limit of 30mph, at 76mph.

He travelled at speeds of between 60mph and 68mph through Mosterton before losing control of the Mercedes and hitting the three pedestrians.

The court heard how the vehicle collided with a nearby wall before bursting into flames, with Ms Bowden trapped between the wall and the car and the other two pedestrians being thrown some distance after the impact.

The crash resulted in a huge emergency services response and all three pedestrians were airlifted to hospital in Bristol, with the A3066 shut for some time as forensic teams carried out their enquiries.

Ms Bowden passed away from her injuries in hospital the following day, on February 9.

Ms Fox-Williams remains in hospital with 'life-changing' injuries while the young pedestrian was discharged from the children's ward on February 15. 

Bovey, who was 40 at the time of the incident, was reported to have been way over the legal drink drive limit when he lost control of the car, which would have 'significantly impaired his ability to drive'.

He eventually pleaded guilty to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving, as well as aggravated vehicle taking - after initially telling police in earlier interviews that he had not been the driver. 

The court learned that Bovey had been drinking heavily at The Royal Standard pub in Lyme Regis with a friend, Sam Cook, in the afternoon prior to the crash. 

Witnesses describe Bovey drinking lager and shots with Mr Cook and his friend's dad, David Cook, before leaving the pub at about 3:25pm.

The latter drove the trio in his car - the blue Mercedes - back from the pub to his home in Lyme Regis via a Tesco Express, where the two younger men purchased more alcohol.

Bovey and his friend later left Mr Cook's flat to 'go fishing' but were later spotted in The Royal Standard by the landlady, who wanted to 'keep an eye on them' after noticing they had drunk heavily earlier in the day.

At about 7pm, Bovey was said to become 'agitated', repeating 'I have got to go' to his friend before leaving the pub at about 7:15pm.

CCTV cameras caught him walking back towards the Cooks' flat carrying a fishing rod, where David Cook described him as being 'aggressive' when he returned.

Prosecution barrister Miss Maylin told the court how Bovey wanted David Cook to drive him to see his mother in Yeovil, whom he claimed was ill.

"He wanted David to hand over the keys to the Mercedes but he refused. Sam Cook returned, and at that point David agreed to take Bovey," Miss Maylin said.

"They had only got 30 to 40 yards when David was told to speed up."

Mr Cook, who was said to be 'scared' as Bovey made threats towards him, pulled the car over, after which Bovey took the keys - telling Mr Cook: 'don't call the police, I will ******* kill you' - before making off on his own at speed.

He was clocked travelling towards Bridport along the A35 before approaching Beaminster and Mosterton.

The court heard how Ms Bowden, Fox-Williams and the third pedestrian had been on their way to the nearby Admiral Hood pub in Mosterton to celebrate a family member's 18th birthday.

At the time of the collision, the trio were just yards from their home as Bovey drove towards them at excessive speeds, ignoring signs warning drivers of pedestrians on the road.

Ms Bowden's husband Matthew and stepson Jake were one of the first people to arrive on the scene after Bovey had overtaken them prior to the crash. 

After the crash, Bovey hid in a nearby address before being located three hours later.

Addressing Bovey in the dock, Judge Mousley said: "Your disgraceful driving has shattered the lives of a family, and from the word go you told the police that you had not been the driver.

"No sentence that I pass is going to be sufficient to satisfy how the family feel and what they have had to go through.

"Your behaviour after that crash was not only selfish but it was cowardly.

"The lives of that family will never be the same again."

Sidney Fox, father of Ms Bowden, told Bovey he has been living with 'grief and anger' since the incident.

"I wish it was him who was in this position. You are an animal and I hope you spend a long time in prison so you can't destroy another family's life," he said. 

Bovey was jailed for 14 years.

He must serve two thirds of his sentence and has also been disqualified from driving for a further 10 years after his release. 

A fundraiser for the victims of the crash has raised more than £31,000.