Moment police arrest Liam Bowes for killing Durham student

Police managed to retrace the 37-year-old’s movements in the hours leading up to the fatal collision which cruelly ended the life of Abigail Eggleston in the early hours of the morning.

The 22-year-old suffered horrific injuries when the VW Golf being driven by Bowes ploughed into her as he raced through a red light after downing ten pints and more shots.

Police arresting Liam Bowes (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Harrowing dashcam footage showed the moment that the law student was thrown into the air as she crossed the A167 at Neville’s Cross in Durham at the pedestrian crossing.

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The mechanic failed to stop after the accident and returned home to Kelloe before setting about destroying the evidence when he tried to torch his friend’s VW Golf.

Liam Bowes with a pint in his hand at the club (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Teesside Crown Court heard how Bowes had denied drinking heavily before the crash but CCTV from a workingmen’s club where he was celebrating a friend’s birthday showed otherwise.

Dr Christopher Wood, prosecuting, said the defendant was shown to be unsteady on his feet and clearly under the influence of drink - ruling out the defendant's initial claim when he was arrested.

Liam Bowes driving away from the workingmen's club (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Durham Police were then able to trace the movements of Bowes from him arriving at the workingmen's club in Langley Park until he headed home at speed.

Dashcam footage captured by a taxi driver showed Bowes racing through the red lights at 56mph before smashing into the 22-year-old and flinging her into the air.

The court heard how Bowes failed to stop and fled away from the scene leaving her with fatal injuries.

The fire damaged VW Golf (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Police were able to find the abandoned car in a layby where Bowes had tried to torch the inside to destroy any traces of evidence.

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And Durham Police released the body-worn camera footage of the moment that Bowes was arrested in his County Durham home.

The court heard how telematic details were recovered from the Golf despite the damage caused to the car and were used to determine he was driving at around 56mph when he collided with Miss Eggleston.

Bowes, of Eastern Avenue, Langley Park but formerly of Kelloe, County Durham, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, driving without insurance, failing to stop after an accident and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Judge Laird jailed Bowes for 12 years after he left the student for dead as he fled the scene and tried to destroy evidence.