Jump directly to the content

A MUM has DEFENDED her thug son who left Angel Lynn unable to walk and talk, saying "he's not a bad boy" in a shocking statement.

Kathy Norris spoke out after her son Chay Bowskill, 20, was jailed for bundling the 19-year-old into a van which she fell from, suffering catastrophic brain injuries.

Kathy Norris has DEFENDED her son Chay Bowskill
5
Kathy Norris has DEFENDED her son Chay Bowskill
Angel, 19, was brain damaged after the kidnapping
5
Angel, 19, was brain damaged after the kidnapping
Bowskill, 20, was jailed - but his sentence will be looked at for being too 'lenient'
5
Bowskill, 20, was jailed - but his sentence will be looked at for being too 'lenient'

Carer Kathy, 58, told of her “devastation” at Angel’s life-changing injuries and how her “heart goes out to her and her family” - who she claims now hate her because of her son’s actions.

Bowskill was filmed grabbing Angel “like a rag doll”, carrying her across a busy street and throwing her into the back of a Transit, which sped off.

He was sentenced to a total of seven and a half years in prison on Monday and will serve half his sentence behind bars — three years and nine months.

And Angel's heartbroken dad Patrick, 53, said he felt like jumping over the dock and "sorting Bowskill out" as he LAUGHED in the courtroom.

Bowskill's mum told The Sun Online: “What happened to her has destroyed me. It is horrific, absolutely tragic, a terrible thing and I’m devastated.

"I knew Angel well, she was always staying with Chay at our house, she was such a lovely, beautiful girl.

“I can’t believe that she will never be her normal happy and chatty self again. It’s so upsetting.

“But nobody will ever know what really happened that day apart from Angel and because of her injuries she may never be able to tell.

“I just hope that with medical research and science over the coming years something can be done to help repair her brain.”

Single mum-of-four Kathy, speaking from her home in Syston, Leicestershire, told how her jobless son had twice been jailed in the past for car theft-related crimes.

He was caged again for seven-and-a-half years after being found guilty of kidnap and related offences following months on remand.

Kathy attended the weeks-long trial sitting near Angel’s family.

She had been banned by police from “having any contact” with them during their investigation.

'HE'S NOT A SAINT'

She said: “My son’s not a bad boy but he's not a saint."

Kathy, who cares for her mum, told how the couple had been together for more than a year and Angel had stood by her son after he had served a brief four-month spell in jail.

She said on the fateful day in September 2020 her son had dumped Angel during a tense conversation at a petrol station in Mountsorrel Leicestershire while trying to do a car deal at an adjoining garage.

She explained: “Chay told me he’d finished with her. He didn’t want her to go so he went after her and picked her up and put her back in the van.

“Everyone is blaming Clay for her injuries but he didn't cause them.

“I can't blame my son for her injuries, I need to protect him and stand by him.

Angel Lynn has been left serving a hellish life sentence needing 24/7 care meanwhile her kidnapper will walk free in just two years
5
Angel Lynn has been left serving a hellish life sentence needing 24/7 care meanwhile her kidnapper will walk free in just two years
Bowskill, 20, was filmed grabbing Angel 'like a rag doll', carrying her across a busy street
5
Bowskill, 20, was filmed grabbing Angel 'like a rag doll', carrying her across a busy street

“What happened to Angel has destroyed me. It's my son's third time in prison. I have to accept what he has done.

“But he is being branded an evil kidnapper, and while he took Angel it was to protect her not hurt her. In the eyes of the law that is kidnap but the sentence he was given is too long.

“I know Angel’s family feel it is not long enough. We all wish he had driven off and left her there.”

Divorcee Kathy added: “When I heard what had happened it was one of the worst days of my life.

“I want to tell her family I am so sorry for what happened but I don’t blame my son.”

Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women's Aid, said last night about the sentencing: “The fact that the perpetrator could be out so soon shows that we urgently need domestic abuse training for all judges.

“This sends out a dangerous message about how seriously we take violence against women in this country — judges need to send a clear message that domestic abuse will not be tolerated."

Angel's mum Nikki, 47, said that she walked out of the courtroom when they first played the video of her beloved daughter being snatched - as it made her "sick and upset."

'I DON'T BLAME MY SON'

Speaking about how the awful video of her daughter being snatched made her feel, the helpless mum said: "Horrible, I didn't watch it at first.

"I watched it towards the last part of the court. They showed it at the beginning I think, but I didn't stay, I walked out."

The tearful mum added that she felt: "Horrible, sick, upset, scared for her, that I couldn't help her."

Angel’s family said they are outraged that Bowskill got just two years for the kidnap — even though the offence carries a maximum sentence of life.

They said they planned to call for a review of the kidnap sentence, saying it was “unduly lenient”.

And now the Attorney General, Suella Braverman, has confirmed she has received a complaint about the sentence handed out yesterday.

Britain's top lawyer and her legal advisers will now examine the case files to determine if it should be referred to the Court of Appeal for a formal review.

You can, to help bring her home with the equipment she needs.

Chief executive of Women's Aid, Farah Nazeer, said: "This a devastating outcome for the family of Angel Lynn.

"The actions of the men involved show the entitlement they felt over Angel, who is seen being physically carried away in the video as they kidnap her.

"She was carried away as if she was a possession, which indicates their attitudes towards women.

"The court heard of a history of domestic abuse, and it is vital that this isn't minimised. Abusers frequently will try to manipulate and control what family and friends think.

"Time after time, we only have the abuser's version of events, but we do know the most dangerous time for a woman is when she tries to leave an abusive partner.

"This is statistically when most domestic homicides happen, with three women being killed by a current or former partner every fortnight in the UK.

"Since coercive control became illegal in England and Wales at the end of 2015, we have campaigned for greater awareness of the crime.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

"However, sentences needs to reflect the severity of the crime for this law to be effective.

"Judges need to send a clear and consistent message that domestic abuse and misogyny will not be tolerated."

How you can get help

Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:

  • Always keep your phone nearby.
  • Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
  • If you are in danger, call 999.
  • Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
  • Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
  • If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
  • Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.

If you are a ­victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support ­service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].

Women’s Aid provides a  - available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.

You can also call the freephone 24-hour ­National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

Topics