In a shocking turn of events, the mother and partner of Ashley Donald, a man convicted of murder, have themselves been found guilty of assisting him in evading capture. The incident unfolded after Donald deliberately ploughed his car into Andrew Flamson, a father walking his dog on Grosvenor Road in Coventry.

The tragic collision occurred on July 12, 2022, when Donald drove his silver Mondeo the wrong way up a one-way street, fatally striking Mr Flamson. The 40-year-old victim succumbed to fatal head injuries three days later in the hospital.

Following the collision, Donald’s mother, Faye Gowdy, and his partner, Bethany Donohue, played a pivotal role in his escape. They provided financial support and purchased tickets as he fled to Ireland, attempting to avoid justice. However, meticulous investigative work by law enforcement soon unravelled their efforts.

Detectives employed detailed phone analysis, scrutinised bank transactions, and reviewed CCTV footage to piece together the events. Within hours of the collision, Donald contacted both his girlfriend and his mother, who transferred money to Donohue. She then procured two ferry tickets to Ireland.

On July 19, officers apprehended Gowdy at her home in Edgbaston. Simultaneously, Donohue returned to the UK via Birmingham Airport, where she was also detained. Although extradition proceedings had begun to bring Donald back from Ireland, he voluntarily returned to Coventry in September, surrendering himself to the police.

Donald faced trial in May of the previous year and received a life sentence with a minimum term of 23 years for Mr Flamson’s murder. Additionally, three other men who were in the car during the collision were convicted of manslaughter and received sentences ranging from 12 to 15 years.

Gowdy, aged 44 and residing on Carpenter Road in Edgbaston, and Donohue, aged 23 and living on Albany Road in Coventry, were both found guilty of assisting an offender. Their sentencing is scheduled for August 12 at Leamington Crown Court.

Detective Inspector Tom Lyons expressed his dismay at the case, stating, “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.”