Both young men have been jailed
After being kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend, a teen was left unable to walk, talk or feed herself without 24-hour care.
Angel Lynn, 19, was left with life-changing injuries following her kidnap at the hands of her ex Chay Bowskill, 20, and his mate Rocco Sansome, also 20.
It is understood that Lynn exited a speeding vehicle going 60mph on the A6 towards Loughborough back in September 2020. The two young men were consequently locked up, with Bowskill set to serve seven-and-a-half years and Sansome 21 months.
Bowskill was convicted of controlling and coercive behaviour during his year-long relationship with Lynn. He was also charged with preventing the course of justice after persuading his mother to alter her police statement.
Bowskill was cleared of “unintentionally causing her grievous bodily harm” because police could not prove how Lynn ended up hurtling out of the speeding car. While the prosecution was unable to prove she had been thrown out, the defence claimed she purposefully jumped or – at the very least – fell accidentally, Leicester Crown Court heard.
Judge Timothy Spencer QC told Bowskill: “She was a beautiful young woman who should have been enjoying the carefree years of her late-teens into early adulthood.
“You treated her in a vile way. She was belittled by you to a point where she must have felt worthless on a regular basis.
“You bombarded her with repulsive and degrading messages. You controlled her freedom of movement by a variety of means.”
He added that Lynn was not allowed a life and was on “at least two occasions” subjected to physical violence.
He continued: “Were it not for the kidnapping, Angel Lynn wouldn’t have been in the van, in which there was a high state of tension, travelling along the A6 at between 60 and 70mph and wouldn’t have been in a position where she exited the van with devastating consequences.
“The ultimate consequences cannot be ignored. It must also be set against the background of many months of controlling and coercive behaviour.”
On perverting the course of justice, the judge said: “You should be ashamed of your vile and demeaning conduct towards your mother, seeking to get her to perjure herself – because it was you who brought her to this very low ebb.
“It strikes at the heart of the criminal justice system.”
Sansome admitted to the possession of cannabis and driving the van while high on the morning of the accident. At the same time, the judge noted that Sansome’s role was less severe than his mates.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Tony Yarwood of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit Major Crime Team, said Lynn had “plans and aspirations” that could now be a distant dream.
He explained: “Because of the extent of her injuries she now faces constant medical treatment and round the clock care.
“Her family remain devastated by what has happened and I praise the strength and bravery they have shown and continue to demonstrate to this day.
“No verdict or subsequent sentence can make up for the quality of life this young woman has lost. I can only hope that in time her family can find some comfort knowing justice has been done.”
How did the accident happen?
The court heard how Angel had initially been driving the van lawfully and had picked up her boyfriend and his friend. It is then understood that Angel exited the van after an argument with Bowskill.
CCTV footage shows Bowskill running after her, grabbing her in a bear hug and hoisting her back to the van, which was then driven away by his accomplice, Sansome.
Lynn fell onto the road via the van’s rear sliding door while Bowskill was in the passenger seat. He told the court she threw herself out – something that allegedly left him hysterical and distressed.
Bowskill’s lawyer, Robin Howat, noted his client’s “fractured background” and lack of a male role model growing up inevitably led to him not attending school and joining a drug-dealing gang. He added that the “toxic” relationship with Angel had been on-again-off-again for some time before the A6 incident.
Both Howat and Sansome’s lawyer Thomas Schofield spoke on the “short duration” of the kidnap, citing that they were merely taking her home. Schofield added that Sansome “never touched” Angel and that he was a “secondary party” in the offence.
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