OFFENDER JAILED AFTER RUNNING OVER STEPMOTHER DURING WEDDING CHAOS
A violent incident occurred at a wedding in Durham involving Ben Ashman, 37, from Houghton-le-Spring.During a row at his stepbrother's wedding at the Bowburn Hotel, Ashman drove his Vauxhall Grandland SUV at guests in the hotel car park.
The altercation sparked after his girlfriend expressed displeasure at how someone was looking at her.
Ashman was initially charged with attempting to murder his stepmother, Kathryn Ashman, but this charge was later dropped, and prosecutors accepted that he had unintentionally run her over three times.
He was at the wedding celebrating his stepbrother Connor's wedding when the chaos unfolded.
Witnesses reported that Ashman left the hotel after a fight but then engaged in a further clash with his stepbrother Kyle.
His girlfriend also grappled with his stepmother, who was disturbed by the commotion.
Ashman was heard to threaten: "I'll splat everyone here," and he then assaulted Kyle Ashman by knocking him to the floor twice.
When a female friend tried to calm his girlfriend, Ashman punched her, grabbed her keys, and slammed his car door on her arm.
He then threw a rock at a window, damaged a vehicle, deliberately reversed his SUV into his stepmother, and then ran her over, leaving her bloodied and covered in injuries.
He then sped off over grass and out of the car park, telling a stranger he had run over nine people who had pelted his girlfriend with bricks, claiming, "Cheers, mate, thanks for stopping.
I have just had a fight with nine people, they started pelting our lass with bricks so I ran three of the b******* over.
You would do it if it was your girlfriend." Ashman was found to have caused serious injuries to his stepmother, including a fractured eye socket and six broken ribs, and she suffered PTSD and panic attacks.
He was sentenced to six years in prison after admitting causing serious injury by dangerous driving, common assault, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving, and criminal damage.
The judge stated that Ashman's mental health issues and medication contributed to his impulsiveness, recognizing that he was in a rage incapable of seeing what was around him, and noted that he could have killed his stepmother.
