Neil Jones, a driver with a history of motoring offences, has been jailed for 51 months for causing death by careless driving and later brandishing a claw hammer at shoppers in a road rage incident.
Fatal Collision
Jones, 48, killed "devoted nan" Linda Donnelly, 72, on December 12, 2024, in Bootle, Merseyside. He was driving at 45mph in a 30mph zone when he struck her as she crossed Brewster Street. The court heard he was travelling at roughly 45mph, between 39mph and 51mph, at the time.
Prosecutor Zahra Baqri said a taxi driver following Jones "saw something fly into the air" after the impact. Paramedics made considerable efforts at resuscitation, but Mrs Donnelly was pronounced dead at Aintree Hospital. Jones told detectives he "simply didn't see Mrs Donnelly in the road."
Judge Simon Medland KC stated: "The careless driving for which I have to sentence you, which caused Mrs Donnelly's death, was that you exceeded the speed limit by about 50%. But for your driving, there is every reason to suppose that she would be alive today."
Road Rage Incident
On December 23, 2025, while the earlier case was ongoing, Jones drove towards a family at the Coliseum Shopping Park in Ellesmere Port. He narrowly missed hitting a child and then brandished a claw hammer at shoppers after a confrontation.
The court heard Jones drove "far too quickly in very busy circumstances" and almost collided with a family. He then parked in a disabled bay, retrieved a claw hammer from his boot, and wielded it. Judge Medland said: "You took the trouble to go to your boot, remove a claw hammer and wield the hammer in circumstances that put yourself a hair's breadth away from being charged with attempted GBH with intent."
Jones also assaulted two people during the incident, pushing one and punching another. Security staff detained him, but he reversed his car and collided with another vehicle, crushing a passerby between two cars twice.
Sentencing
Jones pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, dangerous driving, making threats with an offensive weapon, and two counts of assault. He was sentenced to a total of 51 months in prison, banned from driving for 51 months, and ordered to take an extended retest. Restraining orders were also imposed for seven years protecting Mrs Donnelly's family and his victims.
Detective Constable Jason Smith of Cheshire Police said: "Thankfully no one was seriously injured in this highly volatile situation, but for all those involved it was a frightening experience where they had no idea whether this was going to escalate into a dangerously violent conclusion."
