SMASH HORROR
Moment hit & run driver sinks 10 pints and downs shots at 50th birthday party before mowing down student at red light
THIS is the moment a hit and run driver dances and downs drinks before mowing down a student and leaving her for dead.
Liam Bowes, 37, knocked back 10 pints of lager and shots at a 50th birthday party before getting behind the wheel.
Video shows him dancing outside the barCredit: Durham Police
Footage released by police shows him drinking before getting behind the wheelCredit: Durham Police
Abigail Eggleston, who was killed by Liam BowesCredit: Supplied
He was driving a friend’s Volkswagen Golf when he ploughed into 22-year-old Abigail Eggleston.
Harrowing footage played in court captured Bowes careering through a red light and striking the second year law student as she used a pedestrian crossing in Durham.
Bowes, a motor mechanic, was speeding at 56mph on the 40mph stretch when he hit the student.
He left her dying in the road and fled the scene, Teesside Crown Court heard.
The 37-year-old later set fire to the vehicle in a bid to destroy evidence.
Footage released by police shows him drinking at a bar before dancing outside.
He then returns indoors and downs shots at the pub.
The punter appears to take a book and nearly knocks over a sanitisation stand as he leaves.
Bowes admitted causing death by death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.
Sentencing him to 12 years behind bars, Judge Francis Laird KC said Bowes’ dangerous driving was “prolonged, persistent and deliberate” and said Abigail “did not stand a chance”.
Her family branded him as a selfish “coward” for failing to stop at the scene.
Judge Laird told Bowes: “Your deliberate and wilful decision to drive whilst highly intoxicated, and in doing so ignore the most basic rules of road safety, resulted in the loss of a precious life.
“The loss to the Eggleston family is devastating for them and will impact the rest of their natural lives.”
Bowes was filmed drinking between eight and ten pints, as well as shots, at a working men’s club in Langley Park, near Durham, on October 25.
Bowes seen doing shots before he got behind the wheelCredit: Durham Police
He tried to set the car on fire in an effort to cover his tracksCredit: Durham Police
Her multiple injuries were so catastrophic that her family, who live in Northamptonshire, couldn’t arrive in time to say goodbyeCredit: Supplied
He was unsteady on his feet as he left the venue at around 1.30am the following morning.
He took a car belonging to a friend which he was not insured to drive, said Dr Christopher Wood, prosecuting.
Witnesses said Bowes made “no effort to break” as Abigail crossed the road, “simply didn’t stop and left the scene”.
Abigail was taken to Newcastle‘s Royal Victoria Infirmary after the crash but died a short time later.
Her multiple injuries were so catastrophic that her family, who live in Northamptonshire, couldn’t arrive in time to say goodbye.
Her mum, Mandy Eggleston, told the court that she would never forgive Bowes and said: “My world has completely shattered”.
“Losing her has resulted in my world being completely and utterly crushed and destroyed. Life can never be the same for me without her.”
She went on: “I feel that irrespective of whether you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs you are undeniably of an age to know right or wrong.
“At no time have you ever regained a conscience or shown any hint of remorse. Instead you embarked on a mission to cover and hide your tracks.
“You deemed you own welfare more important than your friends and took no qualms about burning his car.
Abigail didn’t ‘stand a chance’Credit: Supplied
His arrest was caught on cameraCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
“If that is how you treat you friends then Abigail had no chance.”
Abigail’s sister Jessica Eggleston told Bowes: “I often find myself wondering, after you ploughed into my sister and left her in the road, did you consider even anonymously calling the emergency services to ensure that she got help?”
The court was told Bowes tried to cover his tracks by abandoning the car and setting it on fire with the “unwitting assistance” of his mother.
He then texted a friend to suggest he had been at home at the time of the hit-and-run.
When arrested and interviewed by police, he denied being at the wheel before later admitting his involvement when confronted with CCTV images.
Bowes also admitted driving without insurance and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.
He was also disqualified from driving for 18 years.
Judge Laird said: “Abi, as she was affectionately called was aged 22 at the time of her death and was studying for a degree in law at Durham University.
“Those who knew her have described an intelligent, hard-working and sensitive young woman.
“In short, she was full of life. She was the daughter every parent would want and the sister every sibling would be fortunate to have.
“Sadly all that was taken away.’
He added: “No sentence that this court could possibly impose could measure the value of her life, nor ease the pain and sorrow felt by them.”
The court was told Bowes tried to cover his tracks by abandoning the car and setting it on fire with the ‘unwitting assistance’ of his motherCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Abigail was taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary after the crash but died a short time laterCredit: Supplied
