Woman jailed for murder after running over partner in Cheshire

Alice Wood killed Ryan Watson after accusing him of flirting with another woman at a party

Author: Harry BoothPublished 2nd Feb 2024

A woman who deliberately ran over her partner in Cheshire, after accusing him of flirting with another woman, has been jailed for 18 years.

Alice Wood, who's now 24, was found guilty last month of the murder of Ryan Watson, 24, following a three-week trial.

Wood and her partner went to a birthday party on 6 May 2022, where there was apparently some tension between the pair.

It was fuelled further by Wood accusing her fiancé of flirting with another woman.

CCTV footage from the car park at the venue in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, and from a restaurant on the road of their house in Rode Heath, tracked the couple leaving the party and driving home, with Wood behind the wheel.

Upon arriving back at their shared home, the pair had an argument, after which Ryan is seen getting out of the vehicle and kicking a nearby car in frustration.

The footage then captured Wood reversing her car into Ryan, as he crossed the road. She went on to hit him several times.

Ryan Watson was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of crush asphyxiation.

Wood was breathalysed and found to be over the legal driving limit.

She was arrested on suspicion of murder and despite making no comment in the interview - she admitted her guilt after saying 'I deserve it' whilst being taken to the police station.

A jury found her guilty of murder and she will begin her jail term today.

David Jones, Senior Crown Prosecutor in CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said:

"This was a tragic loss of life of a young man with his whole life ahead of him.

"Under the influence of alcohol, it was clear that Alice Wood’s jealousy was ammunition enough for her to brutally kill her partner.

"Though it will never make up for their devastating loss, I hope today’s conviction brings Ryan’s family some solace, knowing his murderer has been brought to justice."

Hear the latest news from across the UK every hour, on Absolute Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, and on the Rayo app.