Jealous woman who killed her boyfriend was 'school swot' with unusual tattoo

06 January 2024 , 18:14

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Alice Wood was found guilty of murder earlier this week (Image: PA)

Jealous boyfriend-killer Alice Wood was a school swot who had her top grades tattooed on her arm, says a former friend.

The 23-year-old used her car “as a weapon” to mow down Ryan Watson and drag him more than 500ft after accusing him of flirting with another woman at a party.

And the former friend said her crime seemed so out of character. They said: “Alice never showed any signs of jealousy, anger or aggression and wasn’t the type of person you had to be careful around. She was friendly with the majority of people and quite quiet – but when she did speak it was of value. I think that’s why it came as such a shock.

"Speaking to everyone who knew her the general consensus is this is unexpected. She was really smart, like effortlessly so. In the first year of secondary she was selected for the gifted and talented group, got three A-stars at A-level and was one of only a few pupils in the school’s history to get to the final selection stage for Oxford.“

Wood at 16

Wood outside Chester Crown Court (PA)

On Tuesday, a jury at Chester crown court found the former Manchester University philosophy student, from Rode Heath, Cheshire, guilty of murder. Prosecuting, Andrew Ford KC said charity support worker Ryan, 24, was an outgoing guest at the May birthday bash in Hanley.

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He said: “Ryan was caught on camera having a good time, being a gregarious and outgoing party guest. We say this is a simple case – she lost her temper, had an argument with her boyfriend and used the car as a weapon.”

Ryan Watson (Cheshire Police / SWNS)

Watson's family welcome Wood's conviction (PA)

The court heard Ryan died of crush asphyxiation injuries and Wood was almost twice the drink-drive limit. His family welcomed the verdict, saying: “The person Ryan trusted the most is the person who took his life in such a violent way.” Mum Lisa added: “I am living in a nightmare knowing my son’s last moments were so brutal.”

Wood, who had just got a scholarship to study for a Master’s at Cambridge, faces a life term when sentenced.

Saskia Rowlands