More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A pregnant woman has been sent to prison after driving her car at her sister in a rage – and her mum thanked the judge.
Cocaine-fuelled Lisa Bowden was involved in a row with younger sister Jade on December 14 last year after a bust-up over a man.
The furious 33-year-old mum-of-two got into her car after telling her sibling "I'm going to kill you" and then driving at her.
Maidstone Crown Court heard how Jade was struck in the leg by the car – which had Lisa's children inside – before driving away.
Jade suffered a fracture and bruising after being catapulted over the bonnet and revealed later she feared she was going to die.
The incident was caught on CCTV and shown to Judge Oliver Saxby KC which showed she was almost injured by another passing car.
Jailing Bowden, of Wiltshire Close, Stone, Dartford, for 18 months, he said: "It was a miracle that she wasn't hit by the other car which just brushed her. You placed your sister at significant risk."
After being led away to begin her sentence, a woman in the public gallery stood up and told the judge: "I am her mum and you did the right thing."
Bowden, who is 16 weeks pregnant, had admitted charges of unlawful wounding, driving under the influence of cocaine and without insurance.
Prosecutor John Connor told the court the incident happened near the Beef and Babes Gym, in London Road, Stone, after a falling out over an ex-boyfriend.
After the two sisters shouted at each other, Lisa, with her children aged 10 and 12 in the back of the car, shouted she was going to run her sister over.
Bowden then drove at Jade, knocking her over the bonnet and fracturing her femur before driving away.
Mr Connor added that Jade was then taken to hospital as Bowden went to a police station where her cocaine level was nearly two-and-a-half times the legal limit.
She initially claimed the high drug reading was caused by someone spitting into her mouth.
Alexa Le Moine, defending, said the sisters are now reconciled and Jade was in the public gallery to support her.
"She deeply regrets what happened and is remorseful and she is disgusted with herself," she added.
"And I am not satisfied your remorse is genuine. I don't feel able to suspend this sentence...."
After the incident, Bowden went into rehab in January to tackle her addiction to prescribed medication and claims she suffers from PTSD and is bipolar.
"But she doesn't seek to use her medical conditions as an excuse. There can be no justification for her behaviour which was out of character," said the barrister.
Judge Saxby said there had been "bad blood" between the sisters, adding: "And I am not satisfied your remorse is genuine. I don't feel able to suspend this sentence."
Bowden, who looked shocked at her sentence, was also disqualified from driving for 33 months.
