Aimee's ex-partner admits to staging the hit-and-run, but maintains he is not guilty of her murder

Rowan Sutton, who is accused of murdering Aimee Pike in April 2025, has admitted to staging the hit-and-run 'suicide' scene but has maintained that her death was a "tragic accident". 

Charlotte Ramsdale of the Kingsbridge and Salcombe Gazette has reported that Sutton, 31, has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, "admitting he subsequently staged a false hit-and-run suicide scene on Embankment Road in Kingsbridge", but maintains his not guilty plea in the murder of his 22-year-old ex-partner Aimee Pike.

He now says that Aimee had left his vehicle after getting upset, and he accidentally hit her with his Land Rover as he was searching for her in the dark. 

Prosecuting counsel James Dawes KC noted that Sutton's mobile phone had stayed connected to his home Wi-Fi at the start of the night, and if he had be concerned for her welfare, he would have taken it with him. Aimee's phone had been active until around 3am. It has never been recovered. 

Mr Dawes added: "He has admitted it because the weight of the evidence has forced him into an admission of guilt."

It has been reported that Aimee's family have been giving evidence in court, with her father explaining that Sutton had called him just before 5am to say that Aimee had been hit by a car and when he arrived, Sutton told him she had been hit by a passing delivery van.

It was reported that when he was being cross-examined by Ignatius Hughes KC, Sutton's defence barrister, Mr Pike agreed that Aimee had experienced mental health challenges as a teenager, and a history of going for long walks at night wearing dark clothes, but that he made clear that Aimee had matured since becoming a mother and saying "[Her son] became the most important thing to her... She was very caring and looking out for her family". 

Other members of Aimee's family testified to Sutton's controlling behaviour towards her, the volatility of the relationship, her unhappiness in it, and the improvement in her mood since their break-up in March and her intention to secure shared custody of her child. 

The Kingsbridge and Salcombe Gazette report states that during cross-examination, "Mr Hughes KC read out part of the sister’s original statement: 'Aimee was the easiest and hardest. Nicest and meanest, it depended what mood she was in'.

"Ms Pike’s sister admitted to the court she was not perfect, but asserted 'none of us are, and we are allowed those imperfections. Aimee was a good person'.

"The defence position states that it was 'not unusual' for Ms Pike to become upset and wander off, and maintains that Sutton went to look for her out of genuine concern when his Land Rover accidentally struck her in the dark."