Neil Jones, 48, of Morningside Road, Norris Green, has been jailed for 51 months after killing a 72-year-old woman in a speeding crash and then, a year later, engaging in a road rage incident where he brandished a claw hammer.
Fatal crash in Bootle
Linda Donnelly, known as Lin, died after being struck by Jones's Ford Focus as she crossed Brewster Street in Bootle, Merseyside, at around 7.45pm on December 12, 2024. She was crossing the dual carriageway and had been in the road for roughly four seconds before being hit. Jones was driving at approximately 45mph in a 30mph zone. Prosecutors said that if he had been at the legal limit, the tragedy could have been avoided.
After the collision, Jones told witnesses, 'I hit her, I hit her. It was an accident.' He later claimed in a phone call that it was 'really dark and he couldn't see anything' and that the woman 'just ran out in front of his car.' However, footage showed she did not run into the road. Paramedics attempted resuscitation, but she was pronounced dead at Aintree Hospital from multiple injuries.
Road rage at Cheshire Oaks
Just over a year later, on December 23, 2025, Jones drove his car at speed towards retired police officer Martin Alwyn and his family at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. The family included two adult sons and two grandchildren, aged five and nine. Jones narrowly missed hitting one of the sons.
When challenged, Jones got out of his car in a 'red mist of rage' and shouted, 'What have you done to my f***ing car? Who the f*** are you? I'll f***ing kick your head in.' He pushed Mr Alwyn, threw punches, and then retrieved a claw hammer from his boot, swinging it at another witness who intervened. He then reversed his car, trapping a man between two vehicles, causing him to scream in pain. Jones drove off but was later arrested.
Previous convictions
Jones had 23 previous convictions for 34 offences, including speeding on five occasions in 2022, 2023, and 2024. He also had suspended sentences for assaults in 2016, 2017, and 2019, and was fined for assaulting two police officers in 2018.
Sentencing
Jones admitted causing death by careless driving, dangerous driving, making threats with an offensive weapon, and two counts of assault. He was sentenced to 51 months in prison and banned from driving for 51 months, with an extended retest required. He was also given restraining orders for seven years against the victims' families.
Judge Simon Medland KC said: 'It was dark because of the time of night and, of course, it was the winter, but there was nothing external to your driving which contributed to the outcome. 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%.'
