Jack Shepherd: Speedboat killer handed extra prison time for breaching bail and fleeing trial

Lawyer claimed fugitive was ‘deeply sorry’ for going on the run after the death of Charlotte Brown

Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd has been given an extra six months in prison for fleeing the UK before his trial.

The 31-year-old was convicted of manslaughter in absentia and sentenced to six years in jail last year.

Shepherd handed himself in to police in Georgia in January, following reports he was hiding in the former Soviet republic and appeals from the family of his victim, Charlotte Brown.

In his first appearance in a British court since November 2017, he was faced by her parents and sisters.

Shepherd admitted breaching bail and absconding after 10 months on the run, but is still appealing his manslaughter conviction.

Judge Richard Marks QC called the case against Shepherd “overwhelming and unanswerable” but reduced the maximum sentence in recognition of his guilty plea.

“Charlotte’s family were, of course, devastated by the circumstances by which she met her death, and those feelings were greatly exacerbated by the fact you chose to go on the run,” he told Shepherd.

The judge said the six months for breaching bail would be served consecutively to the six-year manslaughter sentence.

Ms Brown’s family expressed a “sense of relief” that Shepherd was finally serving his prison sentence, but said he had prolonged their agony and shown no remorse.

Judge Marks hit out at the fact Shepherd had been in contact with lawyers from his “hideaway” during legal proceedings.

“Notes of the entirety of the evidence [at trial] were being sent to you on a frequent basis via the internet, and were received from you about certain aspects of the case,” he said.

“In other words, you were in effect having your cake and eating it. This is not how our system of justice is intended to operate.”

Shepherd’s lawyer, Andrew McGee, claimed he was “deeply sorry” for causing the death of Ms Brown and his actions afterwards.

Mr McGee said his client was “overwhelmed by his fear” of a prison sentence, telling the Old Bailey: “Jack Shepherd genuinely regrets and is ashamed of his decision not to attempt his trial or sentence ... and the effect his absconding caused on the Brown family.

“He’s deeply sorry for it as he is for his involvement in the deeply tragic events of December 2015.”

Judge Marks suggested Shepherd had only surrendered when the “net was closing in” amid media reports that he was hiding in Georgia, but the lawyer said that was “not the case”.

Mr McGee said Shepherd was “ashamed” of failing to attend his trial and now recognised it was “cowardly”.

The lawyer added: “It was motivated entirely by a fear of the possible outcome of proceedings.

“He was terrified by the prospect of a prison sentence and he remains terrified by that prospect.

“It was not deliberately callous or cavalier. It was not cynical or calculated.”

But Ms Brown’s sister accused Shepherd of “prolonging our agony” as she broke down in tears outside the court.

Katie Brown said his imprisonment was a “step closer to justice” but added: “Charlie will never be returned to us, whereas Shepherd can continue his life with his family once he serves his sentence.

“He has not shown any real remorse or accountability for his actions, accusing Charlie of being responsible for her own death.

The sister of Charlotte Brown, Katie Brown, and father Graham Brown speaking outside the Old Bailey on 11 April (PA) (PA/Victoria Jones)

“His lack of respect and decency continues to astound us. We hope that Shepherd’s appeal against his conviction will be dismissed and as a family we can continue to fight for a change in laws on our waterways as a legacy for Charlie.”

Her father, Graham Brown, said Shepherd offered a “skewed version of events” that was inconsistent with his own police interviews and witness testimonies.

“Shepherd claims that Charlie took control of his boat and was driving at the time of impact, but this is based solely on his word and is contradictory to eyewitness testimony,” he added.

“Due to Shepherd’s recklessness and negligent actions, Charlotte isn’t here to defend herself.”

Mr McGee said Shepherd had travelled to Georgia in March 2018, under his own name and using his own passport.

He told the court his client “ultimately chosen to acquiesce to extradition” against legal advice in Georgia.

Charlotte Brown, 24, was killed in a speedboat crash on the Thames while on a date with Jack Shepherd (Metropolitan Police)

Shepherd arrived back in Britain late on Wednesday after being extradited from Tbilisi.

The home secretary, who met with Ms Brown’s family in January, said they have “endured immeasurable pain and are now one step closer to getting the justice they deserve”.

Ms Brown was 24 when she went on her first date with Shepherd in London in 2015.

They were both drunk when he took her without a life jacket on the boat he bought to “pull women”.

Shepherd did not warn her of a steering defect before handing her the controls on a dark winter night.

Ms Brown died after the boat hit submerged debris in the Thames and flipped over.

As Shepherd remained on the run in December, he was given permission to challenge his conviction.

The appeal sparked an outpouring of public anger, with Ms Brown’s family accusing Shepherd of making a mockery of justice.

Additional reporting by PA