A driver who killed a 72-year-old woman and later threatened a family with a claw hammer has been jailed for 51 months. Neil Jones struck Linda Donnelly as she crossed Brewster Street in Bootle, Merseyside, on December 12, 2024. Just over a year later, on December 23, 2025, he drove dangerously at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, assaulted two men, and brandished a hammer.
Fatal crash in Bootle
Linda Donnelly was crossing the dual carriageway at about 7.45pm when Jones hit her. He was driving at around 45mph on the 30mph road. A taxi driver behind saw “something fly into the air”. Jones told witnesses it was an accident and that the victim “just walked in front me”. But CCTV showed she did not run. She died at Aintree Hospital from multiple injuries.
Road rage at Cheshire Oaks
On December 23, 2025, retired police officer Martin Alwyn was at the outlet with his two sons and two grandchildren, aged five and nine. Jones drove his Ford Focus towards them at speed, narrowly missing one son. When shouted at to slow down, he stopped, got out, and became aggressive. He pushed Alwyn, punched both men, and then retrieved a claw hammer from his boot. He swung it at witness Mark Kimpton but did not make contact.
Trapped between cars
As security staff arrived, Jones reversed his car, trapping Jonathan Adamson between his car and another. Mr Adamson screamed in pain. Jones reversed again, pinning him once more, then drove off. He was arrested later.
Previous convictions and sentence
Jones had 23 previous convictions including assaults and five speeding offences before the fatal crash. He pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, dangerous driving, making threats with an offensive weapon, and two counts of assault. Judge Simon Medland KC jailed him for 51 months, banned him from driving for the same period, and imposed restraining orders for seven years.
