A mum spoke out in defence of her convict son who kidnapped his ex-girlfriend and left her paralysed - claiming "he's not a bad boy".
Katherine Norris was blasted by a judge for lying to police and a court after her son Chay Bowskill's failed kidnap attempt of Angel Lynn cause her to suffer brain damage.
Mrs Norris had sought to retract a statement she made to authorities after Bowskill was arrested - with the court being played a recording of him angrily calling her from jail to change what she had told cops.
Judge Timothy Spencer QC described Bowskill as "vile" before sentencing him to seven and a half years prison time for kidnap and coercive behaviour, the Mirror reports.
The 20-year-old was filmed carrying partner Angel, 19, across a busy street before throwing her into the back of a van.
The vehicle then sped off, with the victim falling out onto the A6 in Loughborough, Leicestershire, at 60mph.
She was left her with such catastrophic injuries doctors initially told her parents she would not survive.
Angel bravely battled for her life but can longer walk, talk or feed herself and will require 24/7 care for the rest of the her life.
Single mum-of-four, Mrs Norris, 58, told The Sun of her “devastation” at Angel’s life-changing injuries and how her “heart goes out to her and her family”, who she says she wants to apologise to.
She said: “My son’s not a bad boy but he's not a saint."
“What happened to her has destroyed me. It is horrific, absolutely tragic, a terrible thing and I’m devastated," she added.
“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."
Referring to Bowskill, she went on to say: "I can't blame my son for her injuries. I need to protect him and stand by him."
She claimed that, despite being "branded an evil kidnapper", her son took Angel to "protect her not hurt her", arguing his sentence is "too long".
Speaking during the sentencing hearing, the Daily Mail reports Judge Spencer telling Bowskill: "Your mother comes out of this with no credit – it was disgraceful conduct with her giving lying evidence in court about Angel and the police.
"You should be ashamed of your vile and demeaning conduct towards your mother, seeking to get her to perjure herself – because it was you who brought her to this very low ebb."
The court had previously heard that Mrs Norris made a police statement on the evening of the incident which she later repeatedly tried to withdraw - because she said she had been drinking heavily, reports Leicestershire Live.
She said she consumed two bottles of Lambrini, resulting in her making untrue comments about her son, that she had no recollection of afterwards and regretted.
She claimed the police "took advantage" of her vulnerable position "on the worst day of my life".
The jury heard audio recordings of Bowskill shouting and swearing at his mother over the phone from his remand prison, telling her off for making a statement against him - describing him as "controlling" towards his girlfriend.
He ordered her to retract the statement and to blame it on drink, which she told him she was trying to do.
She told the court her son and Angel were in a "toxic relationship" and should not have stayed together.
Bully Bowskill sent Angel controlling messages and even tried to impose a curfew on her during their one-year relationship.
Her parents Nikki and Patrick criticised the "unduly lenient" prison sentence imposed on the defendant.
He will serve just half of his term in custody and due to time already served on remand could be released as early as June 2024.
Angel's mum Nikki, 47, said: "It makes me furious. What kind of message is that sending to monsters like him?
"He can be back out trying to wreck other women’s lives while my daughter is trapped forever."
Patrick, 53, said he could never forgive Bowskill, adding: "He has stolen everything from Angel and paid such a small price with that sentence."
The Attorney General Suella Braverman has now reportedly confirmed a complaint has been filed about Bowskill's sentence.
It will now be reviewed and the legal chief will decide whether to refer it to the Court of Appeal.
Kidnapping can carry a life term, but currently has no sentencing guidelines.
Nikki and Patrick, both cleaners, face a lifetime of care bills costing tens of thousands a year.
Mum-of-six Nikki said it "felt like my heart had been ripped from chest" after she was told by doctors Angel would die.
Angel was found lying carriageway near her home following the incident on September 27, 2020.
The judge said had she not been kidnapped and placed in the van by Bowskill, she "would not have suffered those devastating injuries".
Bowskill and his friend Rocco Sansome, 20, were cleared of grievous bodily harm, after they said Angel jumped out the van voluntarily.
Sansome, of Loughborough, was found guilty of kidnap and sentenced to 21 months in jail.
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