Linda Donnelly Dies After Being Struck by Car in Bootle, Driver Jailed
Neil Jones receives 51-month sentence following fatal collision and history of dangerous driving incidents.
Sarah Connor
Linda Donnelly, 72, died after being struck by a car driven by Neil Jones while crossing Brewster Street in Bootle.
Jones claimed, 'I'm really sorry. I don't know what happened. She just walked in front me,' repeatedly asserting Mrs. Donnelly 'just run out in front of him.'
He also claimed darkness obscured his vision, stating he was 'driving along, and the next minute a woman just ran out in front of his car and he didn't see her.'
However, Zahra Baqri countered this assertion, stating, 'The footage clearly shows that Mrs. Donnelly did not run into the road.'
The footage clearly shows that Mrs. Donnelly did not run into the road.
This fatal collision did not represent an isolated incident in Jones's history; on December 23, 2025, Jones drove his car towards a family at the Coliseum Shopping Park in Ellesmere Port, narrowly missing a child.
He then parked in a disabled bay, subsequently brandishing a claw hammer at shoppers, pushing Martin Alwyn, and punching Mark Brough.
Jonathan Adamson became trapped between two vehicles by Jones's car during the shopping center incident, experiencing pain.
Jones shouted, 'What have you done to my fing car? Who the f are you? I'll f*ing kick your head in. Don't you dare throw anything at my car or I'll smash your face.'
He also declared he was 'going to take them all on,' despite Mark Kimpton urging him to 'just leave it and get back in his car.'
Jones claimed he faced an attack and brandished the weapon 'to defend himself.'
Zahra Baqri noted Martin Alwyn believed Jones drove 'far too fast for that built up area,' which was 'very busy, given the time of day,' with 'lot of pedestrians milling about.'
Baqri added that Jones 'narrowly missed making contact with his son by a matter of inches' and 'seemed to make no effort to slow down.'
Jones possesses an extensive criminal record, with 23 previous convictions for 34 offenses, including theft, breaches of court orders, speeding, assaults, and assaulting police officers.
This history encompasses nearly hitting a family at Cheshire Oaks and swinging a hammer at another man, a clear pattern of escalating aggression.
Linda Donnelly's husband, John Donnelly, has experienced significant impact from the tragedy, enduring flashbacks and considering moving house.
Callum Ross, representing Jones, stated, 'He accepts, given his plea, that, ultimately, he is responsible for the tragic death of Mrs. Donnelly as a result of his carless driving.'
He accepts, given his plea, that, ultimately, he is responsible for the tragic death of Mrs. Donnelly as a result of his carless driving. To put it very bluntly, he will have to live with that for the rest of his life.
Ross added, 'To put it very bluntly, he will have to live with that for the rest of his life.'
Ross also conveyed Jones's remorse, stating, 'He wishes for me to say on his behalf how sorry he is for his actions and how sorry he is for the tragic consequences that are attributable to them.'
Jones has since surrendered his driving license to the DVLA, with Ross confirming, 'He has no desire to ever drive again.'