Neil Jones, 48, from Norris Green, was sentenced to 51 months in prison after admitting causing death by careless driving, dangerous driving, making threats with an offensive weapon and two counts of assault. The incidents occurred just over a year apart.
Fatal collision in Bootle
On December 12, 2024, Linda Donnelly, 72, known as Lin, was crossing Brewster Street in Bootle at around 7.45pm. Footage showed her reaching the central reservation and then continuing into the second lane of the dual carriageway. She was in the road for about four seconds before being struck by Jones' Ford Focus. Jones was travelling at roughly 45mph (between 39mph and 51mph) on the 30mph road.
The prosecution, led by Zahra Baqri, stated that a taxi driver behind Jones saw something fly into the air, and other drivers stopped to administer first aid. Jones told witnesses: "I hit her, I hit her. It was an accident." He was seen pacing and saying "oh my God, oh my God," and on a phone call claimed: "It was really dark and he couldn't see anything." He later told police that a woman had run out in front of him, but footage showed she did not run. Paramedics attempted resuscitation, but Mrs Donnelly was pronounced dead at Aintree Hospital from multiple injuries.
Jones was arrested and performed well in impairment tests. Under interview, he said he simply did not see her. The prosecution argued that if he had been travelling at 30mph, the tragedy could have been avoided.
Road rage at Cheshire Oaks
On December 23, 2025, at around 3.15pm, retired police officer Martin Alwyn was at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet with his two adult sons and two grandchildren, aged five and nine. While crossing the road towards a restaurant, Jones drove his car towards them at speed. Mr Alwyn thought he was going far too fast in the busy area. Jones narrowly missed hitting Alwyn's son by inches and made no effort to slow down.
Mark Brough, Alwyn's son, shouted for Jones to slow down and threw soft toys at the car. In response, Jones slammed on his brakes, parked in a disabled space, and got out aggressively. He accused them of damaging his car and shouted: "What have you done to my f***ing car? Who the f*** are you? I'll f***ing kick your head in. Don't you dare throw anything at my car or I'll smash your face."
He pushed Mr Alwyn in the chest, made him stumble, and threw punches at Alwyn and Brough, hitting Brough's cheek. Brough was holding his child at the time. The children became visibly distressed. Jones then retrieved a claw hammer from his boot, brandished it above his head, and charged at another witness, Mark Kimpton, swinging the hammer at least twice without making contact.
Jones then got back in his car. Security staff and members of the public surrounded his car to detain him. Feeling trapped, he reversed, colliding with another vehicle and momentarily trapping Jonathan Adamson between the two cars. Adamson screamed in pain. Jones reversed again, pinning Adamson a second time, then drove off.
Previous convictions and sentence
Jones had 23 previous convictions for 34 offences, mostly for theft, and had been caught speeding five times between 2022 and 2024. He had suspended prison sentences for assaults in 2016, 2017, and 2019, and was fined for assaulting police officers in 2018.
In mitigation, Callum Ross said Jones accepted responsibility for Mrs Donnelly's death, had surrendered his driving licence, and had no desire to drive again. He had caring responsibilities for his disabled cousin and was diagnosed with depression.
Judge Simon Medland KC noted that Jones' speeding by about 50% contributed to the death. He remarked that Jones had driven far too quickly at Cheshire Oaks and instead of apologising, he confronted the family and wielded a hammer. Jones was jailed for 51 months, banned from driving for 51 months, ordered to pass an extended retest, and given restraining orders for seven years.
