A teenager who killed an 86-year-old great-grandmother by ploughing into her on an illegal and defective e-bike at a zebra crossing has been jailed. Billy Stokoe, 19, was over the cannabis limit when he collided with Gloria Stephenson on a road in Sunderland on May 16 last year. Mrs Stephenson, who was walking her daughter's dog and trying to complete her daily 10,000 steps, died at the scene.
Illegal Bike and No Brakes
Stokoe's Sur-Ron bike was not street legal, and only the left-hand brake worked. However, Newcastle Crown Court heard he was clutching his phone in that hand and made no attempt to slow down. He did not stop at the scene; instead, he rode off to change his clothes and hide the bike at a friend's house while Mrs Stephenson lay dying.
Prosecutor Michael Bunch said an expert who assessed the machine afterward found 'it would have been obvious to a careful and competent rider that the bike was not in a safe condition to use on the public roads.'
Family's Fury
Mrs Stephenson's family expressed fury at Stokoe's lack of remorse. Despite his lawyer insisting he 'will forever be sorry' and the judge noting evidence of regret, it emerged he had tried to vary his bail conditions to attend a Sunderland match at Wembley and take a holiday.
Daughter Lisa Tench addressed Stokoe in court: 'You, on your illegal, defective bike. You, speeding. You, on your phone. You, under the influence of cannabis. Mam didn't stand a chance. You hit her with such ferocity that you catapulted her feet away from the crossing, inflicting horrific injuries and injuring my dog. You drove off and left her there to die.'
Eldest daughter Julie Francis said: 'Our Mam was fit and healthy, with years left to live a full and active life. She had a zest for life that did not fade with age. She was vital and vivacious until the day you killed her. Our Mam was a beautiful woman, known as "Glamorous Gloria." But more importantly, she was a good person with strong moral principles.'
Defense and Sentence
Defense lawyer Helen Towers said the teenager was remorseful and had stated: 'I will forever be sorry and I don't expect to ever be forgiven. I wish more than anything that I could change it all.' A psychological assessment revealed Stokoe had an IQ of 66 and ADHD. He continued to smoke cannabis after the collision to help him sleep and suffered from flashbacks.
Judge Robert Adams, sentencing, said: 'The defendant will have to live with what he has done for the rest of his life.' Stokoe was jailed for six years and nine months after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
Police Appeal
Outside court, Northumbria Police urged people to report dangerous e-bike riders. Superintendent Billy Mulligan said: 'Billy Stokoe wasn't known to us, but I guarantee people knew that he was riding a bike in that manner. The plea from us to the public is, "Let us know so we can do something about it."' The officer insisted police will take action against the menace of young men on e-bikes and said the perception that officers will not pursue them is false.
