The family of an 86-year-old grandmother killed by a drug-using e-bike rider have condemned him for leaving her dead 'in the gutter' as he was sentenced to prison today.
Incident Details
Gloria Stephenson, a mother of four, was crossing a zebra crossing near her home in Sunderland when Billy Stokoe, 19, struck her at high speed. Newcastle Crown Court heard that Stokoe was unable to brake because he was holding his mobile phone in his left hand. He had been weaving dangerously through traffic all day before the collision, which killed Gloria instantly. Stokoe then fled the scene on his high-powered e-bike.
Victim's Background
Gloria, a widow who had lost three husbands to cancer, had 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was out walking her daughter's dog and planning an overseas holiday with friends at the time of the incident. Her family described her as an 'amazing mum' who devoted her life to her family and community. In a poignant anecdote, they recalled how she once scared off fly-tippers by pretending to take a photo of them, even though she couldn't use her phone's camera.
Family's Anger
In stark contrast, Stokoe showed no remorse. He applied to change his bail conditions so he could attend a football match and go on holiday while Gloria's family were arranging her funeral. Her daughters, Julie Francis and Janine Murphy, expressed their fury. Julie said: 'He is just a coward, thinking about himself. He left her alone to die like she is a bit of rubbish in the gutter. We had to go to Crown Court three times before he admitted his guilt, which I find disgusting.'
She added: 'Obviously, it is traumatic for us but it wastes public money and police time. There is no consideration for the community or for people suffering.' Julie believes Stokoe deserves a long prison sentence: 'They need to set an example. We need justice.'
Julie revealed: 'Ten days after he killed my mother, he actually applied to have his bail changed so he could see Sunderland in the play-offs at Wembley. And then he applied to go on holiday as well. So this young man showed no remorse whatsoever. And that just adds to our trauma and our anger really.'
Calls for Action
The family are calling for changes to the law regarding e-bikes. Julie said: 'We have all seen these bikes on the streets and they are a menace. So the law needs to be changed. They are terrorising people, making you feel unsafe and threatened. I feel that as soon as I see one. As a community and as a society, we need to act. It is no good just sitting there moaning. We need to report it. Then they can come and confiscate the bikes.'
Janine spoke of her mother's 'zest for life' and stressed that 'it was not her time to go.' Gloria had a holiday booked in Lanzarote, due to depart three weeks after the tragedy. Janine said: 'She was an amazing mum. She had such a zest for life. She still had time. People cannot go out on the road, be reckless, drive while high or on the phone and not expect an accident to happen. This has been a nightmare. It has been like something you watch on TV. You never think that it is going to happen to your family.'
Remembering Gloria
Julie described her mother as a 'clever and aspirational woman' who was devoted to her grandchildren. Despite limited finances, Gloria worked as a hospital cleaner before being promoted to domestic services manager after her boss recognised her potential. 'She was a clever woman and really well respected. She loved her children and grandchildren,' Julie added. Gloria would take them to a caravan in Hamsterley Forest and build dens with them. Her children and grandchildren spent days with her in Newcastle, shopping and drinking cocktails. They will 'never get over' the loss but hope the end of the court case will bring 'some kind of closure'.
