*Content warning – references to domestic abuse*
It was said that the original sentence “failed to reflect the seriousness of the kidnap”.
A man who kidnapped his girlfriend and left her paralysed has had his jail sentence more than doubled.
In September 2020, Chay Bowskill forced girlfriend Angel Lynn into a van driven by his friend, Rocco Sansome.
While speeding down the A6 near Loughborough, Lynn fell out of the van and suffered serious injuries. She has since been left unable to talk, walk or feed herself.
At the time, Bowskill was handed a seven-and-a-half year sentence. Now, the sentence has been reviewed by the Court of Appeal and increased to 16 years and three months, The Guardian reports.
Speaking about the judge’s decision, Dame Victoria Sharp, President of the Queen’s Bench Division, said the original sentence “failed to reflect the seriousness of the kidnap” and the damage caused to Lynn.
“Miss Lynn is likely to be severely disabled, mentally and physically, for the rest of her life, and will be dependent on others for all aspects of her care,” she said.
Footage shows the moment 19 year old Angel Lynn is kidnapped by her boyfriend and his friend in Leicestershire.
The men have now been jailed. But Angel remains in hospital over a year later.
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It was reported that Bowskill, who appeared via video-link from prison, shook his head when he heard the result.
His accomplice, Sansome, who had driven the car, was also found guilty of kidnap and sentenced to 21 months in prison. His sentence remains unchanged.
Lynn’s case originally gained widespread attention after CCTV footage was released online showing the abduction.
Lynn’s family have been sharing updates about her condition on a Facebook group called Supporting Angel’s Recovery.
In a recent post, they revealed that Lynn has been making some very small progress in her recovery.
They explained that she has “started to squeeze our hand when we ask her things so a squeeze for yes and nothing for no” and added that while she still can’t speak, she will “wave and give finger gestures”.
They also said: “She can give a tiny smile when asked and will blow a kiss before we leave her – it’s difficult for her but slowly she does it.”
