Mother and Partner Jailed for Helping Murderer Dodge Police
In a jaw-dropping twist, Ashley Donald’s own mum and girlfriend have been found guilty of helping him run from the law. Donald, who brutally killed a father by ramming his car into him, sparked outrage across Coventry.
Father Fatally Hit in Shocking Hit-and-Run
On July 12, 2022, Donald sped the wrong way down a one-way street on Grosvenor Road, Coventry, in his silver Mondeo. He struck 40-year-old Andrew Flamson, a dog-walking dad, leaving him with critical head injuries. Flamson tragically died three days later in hospital.
Family’s Desperate Escape Plan Unravelled
Donald’s mother, Faye Gowdy, 44, and partner, Bethany Donohue, 23, tried to cover his escape. They funnelled cash and bought ferry tickets for him to flee to Ireland.
But police weren’t fooled. Using phone records, bank statements, and CCTV footage, detectives traced the escape route. They caught Gowdy at her Edgbaston home on July 19 and nabbed Donohue at Birmingham Airport as she returned to the UK.
Donald eventually gave himself up in Coventry in September, ending his short-lived flight from justice.
Justice Served: Life Sentence and More Jail Time for Accomplices
- Ashley Donald was sentenced to life with a minimum 23 years for murder last May.
- Three other men in the car got 12 to 15 years each for manslaughter.
- Gowdy and Donohue were convicted of assisting an offender; their sentencing is set for August 12 at Leamington Crown Court.
Detective Inspector Tom Lyons hit out: “This was an awful instance of a car being used as a weapon, resulting in devastating consequences. Assisting the perpetrator in evading justice is wholly unacceptable, and we have diligently pursued justice for the victim.”
