Increased prison sentence for Leicestershire man who left women paralysed
19-year-old Angel Lynn was found in the carriageway of the A6 near Loughborough.
Last updated 23rd Mar 2022
A kidnapper who bundled his girlfriend into a van in Leicestershire before she was found seriously injured has had his sentence increased by Court of Appeal judges.
Chay Bowskill, 20, of Syston, Leicestershire, picked up Angel Lynn and put her back into the van, being driven by his accomplice Rocco Sansome, after she had left it to get away from him in September 2020.
The 19-year-old was later found lying seriously injured in the carriageway of the A6 near Loughborough and has been left with permanent brain damage which means she will need care for the rest of her life.
Bowskill was locked up for seven-and-a-half years in January after being found guilty of kidnap, coercive and controlling behaviour, and perverting the course of justice, following a trial at Leicester Crown Court.
Sansome, also 20, of Birstall, Leicestershire, was also found guilty of kidnap and sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Both men had their sentences for the kidnap of Ms Lynn referred to the Court of Appeal by Solicitor General Alex Chalk QC, who argued they were "unduly lenient".
Bowskill's total sentence was increased to 12 years by senior judges on Wednesday, after they concluded his original term for the kidnap was not long enough.
His two-year sentence for coercive and controlling behaviour and two-year-and-three month sentence for perverting the course of justice, which were previously consecutive, have been made concurrent.
Giving a summary of their decision, Dame Victoria Sharp said: "We have concluded that the sentence passed on him for the kidnap was unduly lenient."
She said the original term "failed to reflect the seriousness of the kidnap" and the harm caused to Ms Lynn as a result.
Members of Ms Lynn's family gasped as the judge told the court of the increased sentence.
Bowskill, who appeared over a video-link from prison wearing a grey sweatshirt, shook his head as he heard the result.
The judge said Sansome's sentence "should have been longer" but that, in all the circumstances, including the fact he is close to being released, the court decided not to alter it.
Horrific video footage showed the moment in September 2020 when Ms Lynn was forcibly picked up by Bowskill and taken into a silver Transit van, which was driven off at pace by Sansome.
Police previously said Ms Lynn exited the vehicle at some point in the journey and she now requires "round the clock care" due to the injuries she suffered.
Dame Victoria told the court Bowskill had been in a relationship with Ms Lynn for about a year before the incident, and he behaved in a coercive and controlling manner towards her throughout that time, threatening her with violence on a number of occasions.
The judge said he tried to intimidate his own mother into retracting a statement she gave to police about his behaviour towards Ms Lynn following the kidnap.
In a statement released after the sentencing hearing, Ms Lynn's family said: "Angel was so full of life and had such a great future ahead of her. That future has sadly been taken away from her.
"The catastrophic injuries Angel suffered will mean life will never be the same for her or our family.
"Every day is not only a huge struggle for Angel but also a huge struggle for our family and friends."
Dame Victoria said Bowskill must serve two thirds of his sentence behind bars before he can be released.
Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice on behalf of Ms Lynn's family following the ruling, her aunt Jackie Chamberlain said the family is "relieved" by the sentence increase.
She said: "We're very grateful to the British public, who have supported us as a family all the way along. We can put this behind us now. We can move on. We can get Angel home. We can get her extension built. So we just want to thank the British public, the judges and the press who have carried our story for the last few months."
She added: "We're relieved because we don't want him to walk away from prison; we want him to get what he deserves and we have been given life."
Ms Chamberlain also thanked Women's Aid for its support.
In a statement, Solicitor General Alex Chalk said: "Angel Lynn was subjected to prolonged abuse by her partner, Chay Bowskill, which culminated in her suffering devastating and life-changing injuries.
"No sentence can repair the damage caused by the cowardly actions of Bowskill, but I welcome the decision of the court to increase the punishment for his crimes."