A teenage e-bike rider who mowed down and killed an 86-year-old great-grandmother on a zebra crossing in Sunderland has been jailed for six years and nine months.

Billy Stokoe, 19, admitted causing the death by dangerous driving of Gloria Stephenson on the B1286 Burdon Road, near the junction with Lidcombe Close in Silksworth, on 16 May last year.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/billy-stokoe-ebike-sentence-gloria-stephenson-b2977304.html?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=1&citationId=2 “Sky News”)

The final walk of a “vibrant, active” great-grandmother

On the day she died, Mrs Stephenson was out on her regular walk, aiming to complete her 10,000 steps and walking her daughter’s dog. She used the zebra crossing on Burdon Road, waiting for traffic to stop before stepping out with the dog on the lead.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/teen-e-biker-jailed-killing-112224293.html?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=1&citationId=3 “Sky News”)

Described by her family as “vibrant, active, beautiful and intelligent”, the mother of four, grandmother of 13 and great-grandmother of five had worked managing domestic services for a local health authority and was still fit and independent at 86.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/billy-stokoe-ebike-sentence-gloria-stephenson-b2977304.html?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=1&citationId=2 “Sky News”)

The illegal Sur-Ron e-bike and moments before the impact

Stokoe was riding a black Sur-Ron electric motorbike which was illegal and defective. The bike was unregistered, uninsured and not roadworthy. The only working brake was on the left side, yet Stokoe was holding his mobile phone in his left hand as he rode for around half a mile in that condition.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/teen-e-biker-jailed-killing-112224293.html?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=1&citationId=3 “Sky News”)

He was also over the legal limit for cannabis. Dashcam footage played to Newcastle Crown Court showed Stokoe approaching the zebra crossing at speed and making no attempt to slow down or steer away from Mrs Stephenson as she crossed.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/billy-stokoe-ebike-sentence-gloria-stephenson-b2977304.html?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=3&citationId=2 “Yahoo News UK”)

The impact was catastrophic. Mrs Stephenson suffered a severe leg injury, including a traumatic amputation below the knee, and went into cardiac arrest. Despite the efforts of paramedics and air ambulance medics, she was pronounced dead at the scene.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/billy-stokoe-ebike-sentence-gloria-stephenson-b2977304.html?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=4&citationId=2 “Sunderland Echo”)

Leaving the scene: hiding the bike and changing clothes

Footage released by Northumbria Police shows Stokoe being thrown from the bike, then getting back to his feet and circling the scene. He removed his balaclava and appeared to search for his phone, which was handed back to him by a passer-by. He then rode away, leaving Mrs Stephenson lying critically injured in the road.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://news.sky.com/story/teenage-e-bike-rider-jailed-for-over-six-years-for-killing-great-grandmother-at-zebra-crossing-13544225?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=5&citationId=1 “Yahoo News UK”)

Instead of staying to help, Stokoe went to a friend’s house where he hid the Sur-Ron and changed his clothes in an attempt to distance himself from the crash. Around an hour later, after his mother recognised him in a police appeal and told him to “do the right thing”, he was driven to a police station to hand himself in.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/crime/brave-daughters-address-mothers-sunderland-e-bike-killer-in-court-as-he-is-locked-up-for-zebra-crossing-death-8548570?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=6&citationId=4 “Sunderland Echo”)

Body-worn camera footage from the moment of his arrest captures Stokoe asking a police officer: “Is she dead?” and reacting as he is told he is being arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/teenage-e-bike-rider-jailed-074600788.html?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=6&citationId=5 “Sunderland Echo”)

Inside Newcastle Crown Court

At Newcastle Crown Court, Stokoe pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. He also admitted causing death while driving without a licence or insurance, and driving an unregistered electric motorcycle dangerously.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/billy-stokoe-ebike-sentence-gloria-stephenson-b2977304.html?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=6&citationId=2 “Sunderland Echo”)

Judge Robert Adams told the court that Mrs Stephenson was a vulnerable road user who had done exactly what the Highway Code expects—waiting for traffic to stop before crossing at a pedestrian crossing—when she was struck. He highlighted that Stokoe had been riding an illegal, defective machine, under the influence of cannabis and using his phone, and that he had left the scene instead of helping his victim.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/teen-e-biker-jailed-killing-112224293.html?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=1&citationId=3 “Sky News”)

Heartbreaking words from Gloria’s family

Two of Mrs Stephenson’s daughters read powerful victim impact statements in court, describing the moment they arrived at the scene and saw their mother in the road, her clothes cut away as medics fought to save her life.

One daughter, Lisa Tench, addressed Stokoe directly in the dock, saying:

“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 those horrific injuries on her and injuring my dog.”[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/billy-stokoe-ebike-sentence-gloria-stephenson-b2977304.html?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=1&citationId=2 “Sky News”)

She went on to describe how the image of her mother lying in the road, “covered in blood, bruised and battered and with her right leg amputated below the knee, just hanging on by a piece of skin”, will haunt her for the rest of her life. She said she relives the moment every time she drives over the crossing and in her nightmares.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/crime/brave-daughters-address-mothers-sunderland-e-bike-killer-in-court-as-he-is-locked-up-for-zebra-crossing-death-8548570?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=4 “Sunderland Echo”)

The family said they were “devastated at the loss of our vibrant, active, beautiful and intelligent mam, grandma, mother-in-law and great grandma”, adding that she had “years left to give her love and share her energy and zest for life with everyone who knew her”.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://news.sky.com/story/teenage-e-bike-rider-jailed-for-over-six-years-for-killing-great-grandmother-at-zebra-crossing-13544225?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=5&citationId=1 “Yahoo News UK”)

The sentence and driving ban

Judge Adams sentenced Stokoe to six years and nine months in prison. He also imposed a driving disqualification of more than eight years, meaning Stokoe will be banned from driving for a significant period after his release.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/teen-e-biker-jailed-killing-112224293.html?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=3&citationId=3 “Yahoo News UK”)

The judge told him that he would have to live with what he had done for the rest of his life, but stressed that no sentence could ever reflect the value of Mrs Stephenson’s life or the depth of the family’s loss.

Wider concerns over illegal e-bikes

The case has reignited concern over the use of high-powered, unregistered e-bikes and electric motorbikes on public roads. Police and local leaders have repeatedly warned that machines like the Sur-Ron, when used illegally and without proper training, insurance or safety equipment, can be as dangerous as any motorbike or car.

Following the sentencing, Northumbria Police and Mrs Stephenson’s family said they hoped the case would serve as a stark warning about the potentially fatal consequences of riding illegal e-bikes and scooters, and of mixing drugs, phones and speed on the roads.[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/teen-e-biker-jailed-killing-112224293.html?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054&citationId=6&citationId=3 “Sunderland Echo”)

A community in mourning

In Silksworth and across Sunderland, the death of Gloria Stephenson has left a deep mark. Friends, neighbours and relatives remember her as a warm, energetic presence who loved walking, family and keeping active well into her eighties.

For her family, the zebra crossing on Burdon Road is now a permanent reminder of what was taken from them in a few seconds of reckless, unlawful riding. For the wider community, the case stands as a painful example of how quickly lives can be destroyed when basic rules of the road are ignored.