Mother who assisted hit-and-run killer son sentenced

Andrew Flamson died after he was hit by a car in a hit-and-run while walking his dog

The mother of a man who was jailed for a hit-and-run killing has been given a suspended sentence for helping him try to evade capture.

Victim Andrew Flamson died after he was hit by a car following a row about a drugs debt on Grosvenor Road, Coventry, in July 2022.

Driver Ashley Donald, was given a life sentence for murder last June, with three passengers also sentenced for manslaughter.

Donald's mother, Faye Gowdy, 44, of Carpenter Road, Birmingham, has now been given a 24 month sentence, suspended for 24 months, after she and his partner gave him money and bought tickets to help him leave the UK.

Bethany Donohoe (left) and Faye Gowdy helped Ashley Donald try to evade capture

Janice Lees, Mr Flemson's mother, told the BBC she felt relief following the latest court hearings.

"I do feel that justice has been served for my Andrew. I am satisfied with the convictions and sentences," she said.

"West Midlands Police left no stone unturned to arrest and charge the offenders."

As she was being sentenced, Gowdy was also told she has to wear an electronic tag for six months and abide by a curfew of 19:00 to 07:00, when she must be at home.

Fled to Ireland

In August, Donald's girlfriend Bethany Donohoe, 24, of Albany Road, Coventry, was jailed for three years for helping Donald try to evade capture.

Gowdy helped Donohoe and the killer when they both fled to Ireland in an attempt for him to avoid justice.

West Midlands Police said they had started the process to extradite Donald, but he returned to the UK in September and handed himself in at Coventry police station.

Officers had arrested Gowdy at home in Edgbaston and Donohue when she landed back in the UK at Birmingham Airport on the same day.

Andrew Flamson's dog was also dragged under the vehicle and had to be put down

Mr Flamson died in hospital from head injuries, three days after he was knocked down by Donald.

The car had been driven towards him, his friend Damien Corbett, two teenagers and a dog.

Mr Flamson's dog was dragged under the vehicle and had to be put down days later.

Donald was jailed for life for murder, and told he would serve a minimum term of 23 years.

The three passengers in his car were sentenced for manslaughter.

Samuel Henneberry, 62, Carl Tomlinson, 52, and Callum Ayre, 20, all from Coventry, were jailed for 15 years, 13 years and 12 years respectively.

They were also found guilty of criminal damage over the dog's death.

Ashley Donald, Samuel Henneberry, Callum Ayre and Carl Tomlinson (clockwise, from top left) were all jailed for the killing of Andrew Flamson

Det Insp Tom Lyons said: "This was an awful case of a car being used as a weapon with devastating results.

"For anyone to then assist the perpetrator of such an act as they tried to evade justice is wholly unacceptable.

"And we have not shied away from bringing both these women who attempted to do just that before the courts."