Devon Coastguard Accused of Partner's Murder, Staging Suicide

A volunteer with the coastguard service is currently facing trial, accused of orchestrating his live-in girlfriend's suicide after allegedly killing her and making it appear as if she died in a road accident, a court has been informed. Rowan Sutton stands charged with intentionally running over 22-year-old Aimee Pike with his Land Rover on a poorly lit rural road. Prosecutors allege he subsequently moved her body and attempted to create the impression that her death was a result of suicide.

At Plymouth Crown Court, the jury heard that Sutton allegedly transported Aimee’s body to a major road, positioned it on a low wall, and then waited for a passing vehicle, specifically a bakery van, around 4 AM, to create the illusion that she had leaped into its path. Prosecutor James Dawes KC told the court that Sutton reportedly filmed the approaching bakery van before placing Aimee’s body on the road. He is also accused of recording himself shouting at the van driver and staging a fake conversation with Aimee, uttering phrases like “don’t do it, stay there,” before calling out her name as the vehicle neared.

Evidence presented to the court included the discovery of two plasters containing Aimee’s DNA near the scene, alongside vegetation found in her hair, suggesting her body had been moved. Her body was later located further down the road. Prosecutors assert that Sutton’s actions were an attempt to make the incident resemble “a car crash.” The jury was informed that Sutton and Aimee had been in a relationship for five years but were in the process of separating. Prosecutors allege that Sutton feared losing access to their son, providing a potential motive for the alleged crime.

Mr. Dawes informed the court that Sutton had previously spread false rumors about Aimee being suicidal, telling family members and his colleagues at the coastguard that she was emotionally unstable, struggling with her mental health, and at risk of self-harm. He stated, “That’s because he planned to fake her suicide but in fact killed her and made it look like suicide.” The prosecutor further added that Sutton allegedly desired to maintain exclusive custody of his son, which serves as a motive behind the alleged offense.

The court heard that even after their relationship ended, the couple continued to reside together at their flat in West Charleton Court, located near Kingsbridge, Devon. The jury was told that Sutton had allegedly exhibited controlling and coercive behavior towards Aimee and was prone to “bouts of intense anger.” Prosecutors also claimed that three weeks prior to Aimee’s death, Sutton sexually assaulted her while she was asleep and filmed the incident, an allegation he denies.

Further testimony revealed that Aimee had stayed in Sutton’s caravan in the nearby village of Loddiswell, where prosecutors allege he had installed a hidden camera inside a clock to record her without her knowledge. Aimee passed away in the early hours of April 23, 2025. The prosecution stated she had initially intended to spend the night away from Sutton before he returned to their shared flat.

Mr. Dawes informed the jury that Sutton parked his vehicle in a village hall car park, out of the range of CCTV cameras, before returning home. Prosecutors allege that over the subsequent two and a half hours, he viewed secret recordings and sent himself a message under a false identity, pretending it was from another person, claiming Aimee had been unfaithful. The court heard that Sutton later departed the property after the streetlights had gone out, driving his Land Rover towards the caravan area via a route specifically chosen to avoid cameras. Prosecutors allege he deliberately left his phone at home to create the impression that he had not left the house and also removed the vehicle’s dash camera. Mr. Dawes concluded, “He went there not to check on Aimee but to murder her. The injuries to Aimee would suggest he ran her down in that Land Rover in the darkness in the countryside somewhere. There were no witnesses to this killing.” Sutton denies both the murder of Aimee and the s3xual assault allegation. The trial is ongoing, with the jury, judge, and legal teams scheduled to visit the scene.