'Immature' ex-lover mowed down rival; Attack victim will suffer for rest of his life.

Byline: Dan Warburton

A JEALOUS ex-lover mowed down his former girlfriend's new partner when he discovered they had spent the night together.

Peter Eaglestone, from Hawk Terrace, in Birtley, Gateshead, had previously been charged with harassing his ex-girlfriend Nicola Snowdon.

She claimed he called her 40 times a day, took her washing off the line to throw it in the bin and threatened that he would "smash her face in".

And on April 13 this year, when Eaglestone arrived at Ms Snowdon's home on Cushat Close, Byker, Newcastle, to collect their son he discovered Ms Snowdon was in a new relationship. The 29-year-old confronted her new partner, Christopher Kilday, of Fenham, Newcastle, before fleeing and getting into his father's Ford Focus car.

Eaglestone, who had no licence or insurance at the time of the incident, then drove between 12ft and 15ft and ploughed into Mr Kilday as he walked towards the vehicle.

At Newcastle Crown Court yesterday, Glen Gatland, prosecuting, said Eaglestone and Ms Snowdon had spent more than a decade in a serious relationship but when the pair split he was unable to deal with being alone.

He said: "He did not accept the break-up of the relationship and was jealous. When he arrived to collect his son he shouted about the fact that Mr Kilday had spent the early hours of the day at her home.

"The relationship was over and she could do as she wished. Eaglestone went towards the car and drove deliberately in the direction of Mr Kilday.

"The car collided with Mr Kilday and he went on to the bonnet and the windscreen before he landed on his face and head. He then drove away and returned to his family. He told them Mr Kilday had jumped on to the bonnet of his car."

Mr Kilday suffered multiple fractures to his facial area and serious head injuries.

He is yet to make a full recovery and still has partial paralysis down his right side.

In a statement read out to the court, Mr Kilday said: "I've had to endure three months of being hospitalised and I just wanted to go home. It was an horrific experience. I have a weakness in my right hand side and my coordination has been seriously impaired. My confidence is so low now. I used to be able to go out and enjoy myself with my friends. A year of my life has been ruined. I still can't understand what I did to deserve this."

Eaglestone has a catalogue of previous motoring convictions going back more than a decade.

Tony Hawks, defending, said: "He is not a wicked or violent lad. He has no convictions for violence and he wouldn't be the first person to take a break-up badly.

"He is an immature lad and it's clear he has a problem with alcohol abuse."

Eaglestone was sentenced to five years in prison yesterday, disqualified from driving, and ordered to take an advanced driving test before he obtained a new licence.

Passing sentence, Judge Guy Whitburn said: "You pleaded guilty to causing these extremely grave injuries on Mr Kilday, and he will suffer for the rest of his life.

"You didn't drive at great speed but it was a case of the red mist descending. You should never have been driving the car in the first place and the damage you caused was very grave indeed."

CAPTION(S):

JAILED Peter Eaglestone.