Fails to send the right message says victim's daughter as appeal launched to extend sentence of e-bike killer
Billy Stokoe was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is appealing under the unduly lenient scheme to see the sentence of Sunderland e-bike killer Billy Stokoe increased after he left much loved mother and grandmother Gloria Stephenson dying in the road after colliding with her on a pedestrian crossing on Burdon Road on May 16 last year (2025).
Following a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Stokoe, who was 18 at the time of the collision, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving after colliding with Gloria on the illegally ridden Sur-Ron e-bike.
After the sentencing, one of Gloria’s four daughters, Julie Francis, said the sentence had failed to send the right message and that her family were devastated by the length of the jail term. They also labelled Stokoe a “coward” for fleeing the scene.
Speaking at the time, former deputy commander of Sunderland policing, Michael Hartnack, branded the sentence a “disgrace” and said it provides “little deterrent” to other illegal electric bike and scooter riders.
A CPS spokesperson confirmed today (June 8) that an appeal against the length of the sentence has begun under the unduly lenient scheme.
Appearing today (June 8) on BBC Breakfast, Julia said: “Stokoe will serve half of that term in prison, with the rest on licence, the terms of which will be to keep out of trouble. But that’s how we live our lives, isn’t it? That’s how normal people behave. We obey the law, so I don’t think that’s part of his punishment at all.
“The law does say it’s illegal, the law is there, it’s just it’s not being enforced. And then the judge had an opportunity to send a really strong message, and in our view he failed to do that.”
Stokoe, who is now 19, was under the influence of cannabis and was riding the machine with a phone in his hand and defective brakes when he hit the fit-and-healthy pensioner, who was walking her daughter’s dog and completing her 10,000 steps a day.
Speaking ahead of Stokoe’s sentencing, Superintendent Billy Mulligan, who led the investigation, warned of the “massive risk” posed by electric e-bikes such as the Sur-Ron model driven by Stokoe, and the risks people are putting their children and wider community under by purchasing high powered models.
He added: “This is an incident which could have happened in any town, city or village. The only place these types of bikes can be legally used is on private land. Parents need to realise that just because you can buy them in a shop, doesn’t mean they are legal to ride.”
Passing sentence last month (May), Judge Robert Adams said he had seen evidence of the teenager’s regret and sorrow.
Helen Towers, defending, said Stokoe was remorseful and had said: “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 found Stokoe had an IQ of 66 and the court heard that he has ADHD.
Paying tribute to her mother, Julia said: “She was an extraordinary woman, she didn’t look her age, she didn’t act her age. She was a very clever woman, she loved to read, to garden.
“She was very fit, healthy, really strong, an independent role model. You know, she was a really positive member of society.
“And now she’s just gone. Everyone is devastated.”