Electric motorbike teen jailed after gran's zebra-crossing death in Sunderland
Electric motorbike teen jailed after gran's zebra-crossing death in Sunderland
An 18-year-old rider on an illegal electric bike collided with Gloria Stephenson, 86, on a Sunderland zebra crossing, killing her and prompting a six years and nine months youth detention sentence.
A teenager riding an off-road electric motorbike, not road legal and in poor condition, struck 86-year-old Gloria Stephenson as she crossed a zebra crossing in Sunderland in May 2025. He did not stop after the collision, leaving the scene and prompting a police investigation.
Dashcam footage showed the rider, who was balaclava-clad, being knocked from the bike and then riding away after seeing the elderly pedestrian lying in the road. At the time of the crash, he was 18 years old, and prosecutors said he had been using cannabis and was on a mobile phone.
Gloria Stephenson was a mother to four daughters and had 13 grandchildren, described by her family as a woman with a zest for life. Outside the court, her daughter Julie Francis said the family was furious and disappointed with the sentence, adding that her mother was killed and the rider left the scene. The bike involved was illegal to use on public roads and was in poor mechanical condition.
In Newcastle Crown Court, Billy Stokoe pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to six years and nine months in youth detention. The family stressed the need for accountability, noting that such bikes are illegal and should carry strict consequences to deter similar behavior in the future. The case underscores ongoing concerns about the safety of illegal electric bikes and the vulnerability of pedestrians on zebra crossings.
