Dad and Son Jailed Over Drunken Road Rage That Killed Toddler Cousin
Deadly Crash on New Barn Road
Owen Maughan, 27, and his dad Patrick, 54, have been locked up for a brutal road rampage that ended with the tragic death of little Peter Maughan. The pair were handed heavy jail terms—Owen more than 12 years, Patrick over 18—after being found guilty of manslaughter.
The horror unfolded on June 1 last year. Owen and Patrick, both from Darenth, Kent, hammered back 12 bottles of beer and 13 pints before chasing a Ford pick-up on the A2 in a drunken fury. Owen recklessly swerved into the wrong lane at speed, clipped the pick-up, sending it rolling three times.
Toddler Cousin Killed, Dad Left Paralyzed
Four-year-old Peter, Owen’s cousin’s son, was thrown from the truck and died from severe head, chest, and abdominal injuries. Peter’s father, Lovell Mahon, suffered a skull fracture and other catastrophic injuries that mean he’ll never walk again.
Judge Slams ‘Selfish’ Road Rage
At Maidstone Crown Court, Judge Oliver Saxby QC blasted the duo’s reckless behaviour. Addressing Owen, he said: “You were angry he had not stopped and wanted to teach him a lesson.” He tore apart Owen’s claim it was just a “harmless nudge,” adding: “You didn’t care what happened to Lovell Mahon and his family. ‘We don’t give a f***,’ as you said.”
Owen pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Patrick was convicted by a jury last month. Both were cleared of murder.
Family Left Shattered
Peter’s mother, Hayley Maughan, gave a heart-wrenching impact statement, revealing the family’s heartbreaking loss. She said they once had “the best life” but are now “surviving, not living.” She called Peter her “other half” and said:
“Peter didn’t even get to learn to read… You’ve taken away my baby.”
Lovell Mahon, now wheelchair-bound, shared the daily pain and trauma he lives with. “Life will never be the same… The death of Peter has broken me,” he said, revealing his anxiety and paranoia have spiralled since the crash.
Shameless Cover-Up Attempt
The pair fled the scene after the crash. Patrick even pulled the registration plate off the truck, trying to cover their tracks. Owen lied in court, including denying knowledge of kids in the other vehicle—a claim the judge slammed as outright false.
This chilling case is a stark warning about the deadly consequences of road rage and reckless driving on innocent families.
