A Kent court has heard harrowing details of frantic WhatsApp messages sent by a mother who was "genuinely in fear of my life" during a high-speed chase that ended with a fatal hit-and-run collision, claiming the life of her four-year-old son. The grandmother of the young victim, Peter Maughan, gave emotional testimony about the terrifying four-minute pursuit that unfolded on the evening of Sunday, 1 June last year.
The Fatal Pursuit on the A2
Erica Maughan, Peter's grandmother, told Maidstone Crown Court how her daughter Hayley sent multiple voice notes and video clips as the family's Ford Ranger Wildtrak was being chased along the London-bound A2. Hayley was traveling with her husband Lovell Mahon and their two children—Peter and his one-year-old sister Annarica—when they were pursued by another Ford Ranger driven by her cousin Owen Maughan, with his father Patrick in the passenger seat.
In her evidence read to the court, Mrs. Maughan described receiving the first messages at 9:22pm, in which Hayley identified her cousin as the driver and used the traveler term "mowldy" to indicate he was drunk. She reported that the vehicle was "driving on top of us" and trying to ram them, sparking immediate panic.
Desperate Attempts to De-escalate
Mrs. Maughan, who was at her home in Brakefield Road, initially urged her daughter to "drive on" and ignore the pursuers, hoping they could reach safety at their Southfleet home. "I was trying to keep things calm and quiet and to let it blow over," she stated in her police statement. However, Hayley continued messaging, revealing they had tried multiple times to escape but were still being followed.
Among the videos sent was footage at 9:24pm showing the two vehicles traveling side-by-side on the A2. Hayley messaged: "We have driven on 20 times. What is wrong with people? Man's trying to drive on top of us. Genuinely in fear of my life. He is trying to ram into us."
In a moment of panic, Mrs. Maughan responded by telling her daughter to "ram them," later explaining to police: "I was so panicked I didn't really know what I was saying. There were a thousand things going through my head and I just wanted to get them home safe."
The Tragic Collision
The situation escalated rapidly when, at 9:26pm, Mrs. Maughan received another clip showing the vehicles side-by-side at the Pepperhill roundabout exit slip road. Lovell Mahon was heard shouting out of his window at Owen and Patrick Maughan, telling them "children are in the motor."
Within twelve seconds of this confrontation and approximately 300 meters up New Barn Road in Southfleet, the family's pickup truck was rammed from behind at an estimated speed of 60mph. The vehicle spun out of control, rolling up to three times before coming to rest upright at a right angle across the road.
Aftermath and Rescue Efforts
Following the collision, Owen and Patrick Maughan drove off toward Longfield, leaving debris scattered across the road. Passing motorists stopped to help, with a Tesla driver and his passengers encountering a screaming Hayley Maughan flagging them down. She was holding her bleeding daughter in one arm and supporting a "slumped" Peter under his armpits with the other.
The occupants immediately transported them to Darent Valley Hospital, with one attempting resuscitation throughout the journey. Tragically, four-year-old Peter could not be saved and was pronounced dead just after 10pm, having suffered severe and devastating injuries to his head, chest, and abdomen.
While Hayley and Annarica escaped with minor injuries, Lovell Mahon, then 24, sustained multiple fractures and brain trauma that are likely to leave him unable to walk again.
Background of the Family Feud
The court heard that the two families, though closely related, had not spoken "for years" following a rift between Hayley's father and his sister, Winifred—who is Owen's mother and Patrick Maughan's wife. Hayley was said to have had "a problem" with Owen's sister, Nicole, at a school just a week or so before the alleged murder bid.
Sonny Maughan, Hayley's eldest sibling, told police in a statement that if the families saw each other they would "look the other way." He added: "I have had arguments with them over a few years but nothing that would cause such violence to be used." Their youngest sibling, Sean, similarly stated: "They are not considered our family and we don't speak to each other."
Legal Charges and Proceedings
Owen Maughan is currently on trial accused of four offences: the murder of Peter Maughan, causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent to Lovell Mahon, and attempting to cause GBH with intent to both Annarica Maughan and Hayley Maughan. Patrick Maughan faces eight charges, including murder and manslaughter in respect of Peter, causing the youngster's death by dangerous driving, three offences related to Mr. Mahon, and two counts of attempting to cause GBH with intent to Annarica and Hayley Maughan.
Jurors have heard that Owen Maughan has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, as well as causing serious injury by dangerous driving and inflicting GBH in respect of Lovell Mahon. The prosecution argues that Owen Maughan used his truck as a weapon while being "actively encouraged" by his father. The trial continues as the court examines the tragic consequences of this family feud turned deadly.
