TEARS were shed by men and women in the public gallery as they heard about how a father-and-son were mowed down and killed by a drunk driver.
Dylan John Pounds returned to the Royal Court for sentencing yesterday and was jailed for 15 years for what he had done.
Some chose to leave court rather than hear the details of the collision on an August evening last year.
Crown Advocate Matthew Maletroit, prosecuting, said Pounds had had an estimated nine pints of lager when he drove his work van along Rue de Fauvic in Grouville on the evening of 5 August, running into Mr Lowe (48) and his 11-year-old son Charlie (pictured above) at high speed.
He was driving at more than twice the speed limit and had been distracted by his mobile phone at the time of the fatal collision.
He did not stop at the scene but continued driving in his, by then, badly damaged vehicle.
Examination of his mobile phone also showed that he had been dealing cocaine and cannabis. He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of drugs.
Pounds (29) also admitted failing to stop and report an accident and had pleaded guilty to the charges of causing the deaths by careless driving.
He denied the more serious offence of causing the deaths by dangerous driving. But after a six-day trial in October he was convicted of the more serious offence.
‘Most serious case’
Crown Advocate Maletroit said: “This is the most serious case of dangerous driving to come before Jersey’s court to date.”
He said that Pounds and a friend had been drinking from around midday until after 9pm. They had left the Dolphin Hotel in Gorey to take a bus back to St Helier.
However, Pounds got off the bus and picked up his work van to drive home in it.
“It was a foolish act, and an act which had fatal consequences,” he said.
The speeding van knocked down the father and son and Advocate Maletroit said: “Despite the seriousness of the collision the defendant drove away, leaving Dean and Charlie Lowe dying on the road.”
Witnesses went to help and called the emergency services and they were taken to the Hospital but pronounced dead shortly after arrival. A doctor described their injuries as “unsurvivable”.
Van ‘damaged and unroadworthy’
Pounds’ van had been in good condition before the collision but had been left badly damaged and unroadworthy as a result of it.
Advocate Maletroit added: “The bodywork was damaged, the windscreen was smashed, there was debris falling off it.
“It is difficult to imagine a more dangerous example of dangerous driving.”
He also said that Pounds had shown little remorse and had previous convictions for motoring and drugs offences. He recommended a prison sentence of 14 years and six months.
Advocate Ian Jones, defending, disputed the argument that Pounds was unremorseful.
He said: “He has said he wishes he could turn back the clock. It is grossly unfair to suggest this young man does not have genuine remorse.”
And he pointed out that Pounds had admitted the lesser charge of causing the deaths by careless driving.
“He has never said he didn’t cause the deaths of Dean and Charlie Lowe,” the advocate said.
“But he 100 per cent accepts the verdict of the court.”
Delivering the court’s sentence, Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae said: “You knew you were unfit to drive and you chose to do so.
“It is difficult for us to put into words the anguish and suffering from the deaths, for which you are wholly responsible.”
Jurats Ronge, Christensen, Le Cornu, Cornish, Opferman, Entwistle and Berry were sitting.
Police reaction
Inspector David Turnbull, lead investigating officer (above), said: “Dylan Pounds’ selfish actions have had grave consequences – on Dean and Charlie’s family and friends, on our community, and on himself.
“Drinking and driving should never go hand in hand. The risks are simply not worth it.
“This investigation has been very challenging and thorough. Officers worked extremely hard and closely with the Law Officers Department to put strong evidence before the court and I want to thank them for their work.
“Our thoughts will always be with the family and friends of Dean and Charlie Lowe.”
