Hit and run driver jailed

The 26-year-old, was driving a Ford Fiesta which was in collision with Michelle Dever, 30, on the 40mph A259 Brighton Road, in Lancing, on February 2 last year, killing the dental nurse.

Chichester Crown Court heard how Filan fled the scene after the accident before dumping the car '“ which had a smashed windscreen '“ at the nearby Beach Green car park.

Rob Hall, prosecuting, told the court Jamie Filan and wife Louise, 29, previously of Lanfranc Road, Worthing, devised a plan to deceive police by reporting the car as stolen.

Mr Hall said: "Suspicions were raised because the Ford was found to be locked and with no damage to the ignition column."

Police then used high-tech mobile phone tracking equipment to disprove their claims and pinpoint exactly where Jamie Filan had been around the time of the accident.

Judge Anthony Thorpe sentenced Jamie Filan to three years in prison for perverting the course of justice, failing to stop after an accident, and for driving with no insurance and without a licence.

Members of Miss Dever's family packed the public gallery at the hearing. After Jamie Filan was sentenced, one shouted at him: "I hope you rot in hell."

To Louise Filan, she added: "And you're no better, either."

Judge Thorpe also sentenced Jamie Filan to two years in prison, to run consecutively, for burglaries he committed in London, in 2004 and 2005.

Louise Filan was given a one-year suspended sentence for perverting the course of justice and attempting to obtain goods by deception.

The court heard she had tried to cash cheques totalling more than 15,000, in Brighton, which her husband had stolen in the burglaries.

Jamie Filan still faces sentencing for careless driving, although Judge Thorpe urged the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to look at pursuing a more serious charge, after hearing the car had been travelling at "no less" than 51mph when it hit Miss Dever.

For the Dever's family reaction, see Thursday's Herald.

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