Dorset Police statement after Mosterton drink driver jailed

As reported, Bovey was jailed for 14 years yesterday after admitting causing death by dangerous driving. He also admitted two offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and aggravated taking a vehicle without the owner's consent. 

The full circumstances surrounding the horror crash in Mosterton in February, and the hours leading up to it, were heard in court.

READ: 'Cowardly' drink driver who killed 'truly wonderful' woman in horror crash is jailed

The court heard that Bovey had been drinking heavily at The Royal Standard pub in Lyme Regis with a friend on the afternoon of the crash. 

Witnesses told how they saw him drinking lager and shots before leaving the pub at about 3.25pm.

Police enquiries established that the defendant has been drinking at the pub from around 2.10pm.

Bovey and his friend were picked up by his friend's dad and driven to one of their homes in Lyme Regis via Tesco Express, where the two younger men purchased more alcohol.

The two friends later left the flat to 'go fishing' but were 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 around 7.30pm he was getting another lift from his friend's dad when he became agitated.

They both got out of the car  - a Mercedes CLK 320 - and Bovey took the man’s keys before driving off in his vehicle.

Shortly before 8.15pm, 48-year-old Nicole Bowden, her daughter Emily Fox-Williams, 24, and an 11-month-old boy in a pushchair – were walking along the A3066 Main Road, on a stretch of the road which is in a 30mph speed limit and has no pavements.

They were on their way to the nearby Admiral Hood pub to celebrate a family member's 18th birthday.

Meanwhile, Bovey was seen by witnesses travelling at speeds estimated around 60mph as he drove through the 30mph speed limit in Mosterton prior to the collision.

As the defendant approached a left-hand bend, he lost control of the vehicle and collided with the three pedestrians.

All three were airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol and very sadly Nicole Bowden died during the afternoon of Thursday, February 9.

Three months on, Emily Fox-Williams remains in a serious condition in hospital with significant life-changing injuries.

The 11-month old child was treated for serious injuries and subsequently released from hospital.

Bovey was described as being verbally aggressive and drunk at the scene and fled  before officers arrived, hiding in a garden for three hours. 

He initially lied to police about driving the car. 

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

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

Sergeant Jay Griffin, of Dorset Police's traffic unit, said: “Shane Bovey’s extremely reckless actions on the night of Wednesday, February 8, had devastating consequences, with the death of one woman and two others being seriously injured.

“He was intoxicated and driving at excessive speed through a rural village before losing control of his vehicle and colliding with the three pedestrians.

“Our thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones, and we have continued to do all we can to support them throughout the investigation and court process.

“I hope this tragic incident can send a clear message to anyone thinking of getting behind the wheel while under the influence of drink and drugs of the truly awful consequences that can occur.

“We will continue to do all we can to catch anyone who poses a risk to themselves and other road users by driving while under the influence.

"We will ensure those who do break the law are investigated robustly and evidence is brought before the court to ensure they are held to account for their offending.”