Dylan Pounds on the left and Dean Lowe and Charlie Lowe on the right (Image: undefined)
A “hit-and-run” drunk driver has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for the deaths of a and his young son during a tragic walk. Dean Lowe, aged 48, and his son Charlie Lowe, 11, were leisurely walking along Rue de Fauvic near Grouville on the Channel Island of Jersey when they were struck down by a van being driven by Dylan Pounds.
The learned that Pounds, aged 29, was not only from a heavy drinking session but also engaged on his mobile phone just moments prior to the incident and, furthermore, was discovered to be carrying cocaine and . On Monday, he received his sentence after being at the Royal Court in Jersey back in October of causing the deaths of Charlie and Dean by dangerous .
Alongside incarceration, Pounds was slapped with a 12-year driving prohibition. The prosecution detailed that at the moment of the collision, which occurred on August 5, 2023, Pounds was clocking speeds of 44mph—14mph above the designated speed limit. Furthermore, it emerged he had ingested nine pints of lager before the fatal event and did not remain at the scene.
In a heart-wrenching victim impact declaration during the trial, Ashleigh Le Boutillier, partner to Dean Lowe and mother to Charlie, expressed how her existence has been irrevocably marred by loss. She said: “Nobody can begin to understand how my life has been destroyed. 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.”
Dylan John Pounds had ingested nine pints of lager before the fatal event and did not remain at the scene. (Image: States of Jersey Police)
Kaye Lowe, the grieving mother and grandmother in this heartwrenching tale, 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,” reports
In a poignant revelation after the court proceedings, Detective Constable Alex Le Chevalier read an extract from young Charlie Lowe’s school diary, which movingly stated: “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.”
Lead Investigating Officer Inspector David Turnbull reflected on the aftermath of tragedy brought about by Dylan Pounds’ reckless actions, stating: “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.”
Police at the scene on Rue de Fauvic near Grouville on the Channel Island of Jersey (Image: BBC – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-66426084)
Turnbull continued to describe the investigation’s challenges, praising his team and their collaboration with legal authorities to ensure justice, conveying their enduring support to the Lowe family: “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.”
Despite desperate attempts to save the crash victims in the emergency ward, both father and son tragically passed away the same night. The local community has since been reeling from the loss, having expressed scores of tributes to Dean and Charlie. Dean, a cherished member of the Jersey Employment Trust (JET) for 17 years and a well-regarded musician in the duo 24/7, was mourned by colleagues and students alike. Charlie, a beloved student at St Clement’s primary school, also left many heartbroken.
A JET spokesperson expressed the profound grief felt by the organisation, stating: “There was no one more dedicated and passionate than Dean about what he did, supporting people who have a disability or long-term health condition into work.
“It often seemed like he knew everyone in Jersey, and certainly anyone who has met him would agree he was full of life and fun and, at all times, JET’s greatest ambassador. Dean, who has worked with us since 2006, was an employment co-ordinator and more recently employer engagement manager, working tirelessly to promote our services to employers and setting up links with corporates and businesses as well as industry bodies such as Digital Jersey, the Jersey Retail Association and Jersey Finance.
Dean Lowe, 48, and his son Charlie, 11, will be sorely missed (Image: Family Handout)
“He had recently started a programme to introduce neurodiversity training in businesses. We send our heartfelt love and condolences to Dean’s family and friends. His loss will no doubt be felt right across our Island community due to the nature and dedication of the work he so passionately undertook, and he will be sadly missed by us all.”
The venue’s manager, Avelino Carvalho, paid tribute to the musical duo act that played at the Dolphin in Gorey the night before the tragedy. He said: “Deano and Tony (who made up 24/7) had been playing here for years, and it’s been a real shock to hear this awful news. You couldn’t find anyone who was a better entertainer than Deano, he was such a natural with his jokes and his music, and people loved him to bits – he just made everyone in the place really happy, and we can’t believe this.”