Drunk driver jailed for killing father and son

Dylan John Pounds, 29, was found guilty in October of causing death by dangerous driving

A man who caused the deaths of a father and his 11-year-old son in a hit-and-run in Jersey has been jailed for 15 years.

Dylan John Pounds, 29, was found guilty in October by Jersey's Royal Court of causing the deaths of Dean and Charlie Lowe by dangerous driving.

They had been walking along La Rue de Fauvic in Grouville on 5 August 2023 when they were fatally struck by Pounds' van.

Pounds, who was sentenced for seven offences, was also banned from driving for 12 years.

The trial heard Pounds had been drinking at several pubs in Jersey before getting behind the wheel, was in possession of cocaine and cannabis and was driving at 44mph (70km/h) - 14mph (22km/h) over the speed limit.

He also made a phone call while driving minutes before the crash.

Ashleigh Le Boutillier, Dean Lowe's partner and Charlie's mother, said there was "no joy" in her life now

"Nobody can begin to understand how my life has been destroyed," said a statement from Ashleigh Le Boutillier, Dean Lowe's partner and Charlie's mother.

"I struggle to put one foot in front of the other. There is no joy in my life now.

"My boys were my world. Now I come home to silence. My heart aches that I will never see their faces again."

A statement was also read out on behalf of Kaye Lowe, Dean's mother and Charlie's grandmother.

She said: "I will never get to hold my Charlie in my arms again. I will never celebrate anything again. The rest of my life will be about survival. I have nothing left to live for."

In his school diary, Charlie Lowe described his dad as the "most inspirational person"

After the sentencing, family liaison officer Det Con Alex Le Chevalier read out an extract from Charlie Lowe's school diary.

The diary was read out at the request of the family and was written in June 2023, two months before Charlie and his father were killed.

Charlie wrote: "The most inspirational person to me is my dad. Your dad teaches you through your life. Yes, they may shout at you but they're just trying to get you through life. Fathers will protect, no matter what the cost.

"Also, the most inspirational person is my mum, they can talk to you when times are hard. Anyway, my dad is funny, kind and hard working. What if your dad got taken away? You would not like it."

Insp David Turnbull, lead investigating officer for the States of Jersey Police, 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."

Dean and Charlie Lowe were killed while walking along La Rue de Fauvic in Grouville at night

The family's parish leader Constable Marcus Troy, said: "Together with a lot of people, I was incredibly upset. I'm upset talking about it now and I was very, very angry.

"But to see an individual with such a future and a child with such a future because he was obviously very popular at school, disappear, was absolutely devastating."

Mr Troy said there had been discussions with their family about a proposal to "put something across the green" in tribute to the father and son.

Matt Tabb worked with Dean Lowe at the Jersey Employment Trust

Matt Tabb, who worked with Mr Lowe at the Jersey Employment Trust, said Mr Lowe's death had really affected colleagues.

He said: "They've had to rearrange the office. His desk is no longer where his desk was.

"A few of them could no longer come in for a while because the idea of seeing his desk empty was just a reminder of what had happened which was challenging for them to deal with."