Durham drink-driver left law student to die at Neville’s Cross

Liam Bowes, who runs his own motor mechanic business, had downed up to ten pints and more spirits at a birthday party before getting behind the wheel of a VW Golf and heading home, Teesside crown Court heard.

The 37-year-old was caught on camera racing through the red light at Neville’s Cross in Durham before crashing into the law student and knocking Abigail Eggleston’s body through the air.

The harrowing dashcam footage was shown before the killer driver was sentenced by Judge Francis Larid KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough.

In heart-breaking victim impact statements, the family of the Durham University student paid tribute to the adventurous and funny 22-year-old.

Her mother, Mandy, told Bowed he displayed “cowardice and cruelty at the highest level” by leaving the scene.

She added: “Losing her has led to my world being completely and utterly crushed and destroyed – life can never be the same again for me without her.”

Floral tributes to Abigail Eggleston at the scene of her death in Neville’s Cross, Durham (Image: The Northern Echo)

Dr Christopher Wood, prosecuting, said CCTV footage from a workingmen’s club where the defendant could be seen drinking at a function the previous evening.

He said telematic details were recovered from the Golf despite the damage caused to the car and were used to determine he was driving at around 56mph when he collided with Miss Eggleston.

Dr Wood told the court that Bowes failed to slow down at all before attempting to torch the car in a desperate attempt to destroy evidence.

Despite the efforts of paramedics, the student died as a result of her devastating injuries and a post mortem revealed she had died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head.

Bowes, of Eastern Avenue, Langley Park but formerly of Kelloe, County Durham, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, driving without insurance, failing to stop after an accident and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The court heard how he has four convictions for 12 offences, including a fine for failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

Christopher Morrison, mitigating, read out a letter penned by the defendant outlining his remorse for his actions in the early hours of Sunday, October 26.

Read more:

Judge Laird jailed Bowes for 12 years after he left the student for dead as he fled the scene and tried to destroy evidence.

“Your vehicle struck Abigail, she didn’t stand a chance of avoiding the impact,” he said.

“Paramedics carried out CPR, sadly she lost her life and her parents were not able to reach the hospital before she died.

“You did not stop at the scene, you continued to drive to your home. With the unwitting assistance of your mother, you drove the car to place where it was abandoned and you set the interior alight to destroy evidence.”

Bowes was also banned from driving for for 18 years and will be required to take an extended driving test before his licence is returned.