Man jailed for trolling hit-and-run victim's family

David Brown sent messages via Facebook Messenger under a false name claiming that he was involved in Dylan Price's death

A man who trolled online the family of a fatal hit-and-run victim has been jailed.

David Brown had claimed via Facebook he was involved in the death of Dylan Price, who was killed in the early hours of 19 September, 2021.

Following an investigation, West Mercia Police concluded Brown had not been involved and charged him with two counts of sending malicious communications.

The defendant, 61, from Bishop’s Castle, later pleaded guilty to the offences at Shrewsbury Crown Court and has now been jailed for 15 months.

Brown had sent messages to the family under a false name in July 2022, the court heard.

After pleading guilty in November 2022, Brown went on to withdraw the plea, but this was later dismissed by the court.

• Listen: Brown taunted family

Mr Price's family previously told BBC News that Brown had said to the them he and and another person moved Dylan's body to the side of the road, after punching him , "basically saying they physically went to kill him".

Dylan, from Shropshire, was found fatally injured at the side of the road, in September 2021

Speaking after the sentencing, Dylan's sister Izzy said it had been very distressing for the family.

"I just don't know what has even entered his head to be able to go through what he has been able to put all our family through, with the cruel messages that he has sent," she said, following Brown's jailing.

"He told us to begin with he knew who had done it and then later on he claimed it was him who had done it.

"We encouraged him to go to the police, but he said he had come forward to tell us he's done it but wouldn't tell us a real name."

She said the family was shocked at Brown being jailed, but said he had wasted everyone's time and frustrated the investigation.

"It's wasted our time, it's wasted police time - he had us on a string for so long... we thought we were going to get some closure, finally... but we still don't have any answers regarding the night we lost my brother."

Dylan died the day before his 18th birthday

Det Insp Jo Delahay said Brown's actions had "caused considerable and unnecessary stress to Dylan’s family during their time of grief".

“Claiming to be involved in someone’s death when you were not only wastes police time and could hinder the investigation, but to then contact a grieving family with these claims is unacceptable," she said.

“I would like to reassure the public that we thoroughly looked in to Brown’s claims and after investigating them, we are satisfied he was not involved.”

Mr Price's family have appealed for information in finding out what happened to Dylan.

He was found with injuries, which were consistent with being hit by a vehicle, but no-one has been found responsible for his death.