Notorious convicted murderer Jack Shepherd has been handed a further four-month prison sentence after a reckless speedboat joyride with a Tinder date on the Thames ended in a dramatic crash.
The 31-year-old, already serving a six-year sentence for the manslaughter of Charlotte Brown in a separate 2015 speedboat incident, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court via videolink from HMP Dartmoor.
A Pattern of Reckless Endangerment
Shepherd pleaded guilty to charges relating to the September 2022 incident, where he took a woman he met on the dating app Tinder for a high-speed trip on the Thames. The court heard how he lost control of the powerful 14-foot Fletcher Arrowflyte boat, slamming into a stationary vessel moored near Wandsworth Bridge.
The impact was so severe it threw both Shepherd and his date into the chilly waters of the Thames. Miraculously, both escaped with only minor injuries, but the prosecution emphasised the grave danger his actions had posed.
Ignoring the Basics of Boating Safety
The court was told that Shepherd's negligence was staggering. He had:
- No insurance for the powerful vessel.
- No valid licence to operate it.
- Completely failed to maintain a proper lookout on the busy river.
- Operated the boat in a manner likely to endanger lives.
Prosecutor Tania Woodger stated that the defendant showed "a blatant disregard for the rules and regulations" designed to keep everyone on the river safe.
A Chilling Echo of Past Tragedy
This latest conviction casts a dark shadow, echoing the events of December 2015 for which Shepherd is already incarcerated. On that occasion, his first date with 24-year-old Charlotte Brown ended in tragedy when his speedboat capsized on the Thames after a champagne-fuelled evening. He fled the country while facing trial and was eventually convicted in his absence.
This new sentence for breaching a suspended order and the latest Thames incident will be served consecutively to his existing manslaughter term, ensuring he remains behind bars for the foreseeable future.
