Former city councillor and police chief labels Billy Stokoe sentence a "disgrace and little deterrent"

Former deputy commander of Sunderland policing, Michael Hartnack, has branded the six years and nine months sentence handed down to teenage e-bike killer Billy Stokoe a “disgrace” and said it provides “little deterrent” to other illegal electric bike and scooter riders.

Following the sentencing, Sunderland MP and education secretary Bridget Phillipson, whose constituency area includes Silksworth, also stressed that all residents “should be able to travel safely through our constituency without fear”.

Sunderland Central MP Lewis Atkinson said “we cannot accept fatal incidents such as these”.

Much loved mother and grandmother Gloria Stephenson was killed by illegal e-bike rider Billy Stokoe, 19, when the 86-year-old stepped out onto a zebra crossing on Burdon Road in Silksworth on May 16 last year (2025).

In February this year (2026), Stokoe admitted causing death by driving an unregistered electric motorcycle dangerously.

Newcastle Crown Court also heard he was 3.5 times over the legal cannabis limit and that he regularly used it in the evening to help him sleep.

Stokoe was today (May 15) sentenced to six years and nine months behind bars.

Former city councillor Michael Hartnack, who was also assistant chief constable for Cleveland Police during a 30 year career with the Force, said: “I had known Gloria Stephenson all my life and her family must be incensed by this disgraceful sentence - it’s appalling.

“I’ve long been campaigning about these e-bikes and scooters which you see around the city reaching speeds of 30mph. This sentence will do nothing to deter these kids and it just makes the job of the police more difficult.”

Gloria’s MP Bridget Phillipson has vowed to support the police in getting these illegally used vehicles off the city’s streets.

She said: “There is concern across our area about the dangerous and illegal use of high-powered e-bikes and scooters. Recent events have brought the issue into sharp focus.

“Residents should be able to travel safely through our constituency without fear, and I will continue working with Northumbria Police to support strong enforcement against the illegal use of these vehicles.

“After years of inaction, I am delighted that Labour’s Crime and Policing Act is now law, giving police new powers to seize off-road bikes, e-scooters and all vehicles that blight our local area.”

Sunderland City Central MP Lewis Atkinson added: “I want to express my condolences to the family of Gloria Stephenson. We cannot accept fatal incidents such as these. In Parliament, I’ve supported the Government’s new Crime and Policing Act, which increases police powers to tackle illegal e-bikes.

“I thank Northumbria Police and prosecutors for securing justice in this awful case, and I’ll continue to support their efforts to tackle bike crime through increased neighbourhood policing resources.”

Ahead of the sentencing, superintendent Billy Mulligan, who led the investigation into Gloria’s death, warned parents about the “massive risks” posed by e-bikes and urged them not to buy them for their children.

Michael said: “It’s the parents who are buying their kids these e-bikes and scooters and they need to realise their responsibilities in saying no. The police also need to be doing more to identify these bikes, scrap them and hold people to account.”

It’s a sentiment shared by former councillor Phil Tye who represented Gloria’s Silksworth ward for 20 years, including at the time of the collision.

Phil said: “There’s a duty of responsibility on the parents who are buying these e-bikes and scooters. A lot of parents are buying their children these bikes and letting them use them without thinking of the consequences.

“Obviously these young people need to be accountable for their actions, but so too do the parents.

“We’ve always had antisocial behaviour from motorbikes, but at lest you can hear them coming. We have an ongoing problem with these e-bikes on the park near the ski slope. Nothing can bring Gloria back, but I hope other young people still riding these illegal e-bikes and scooters see the real life consequences it can have.”

Michael also feels there needs to be greater responsibility placed on the outlets who sell e-bikes and legislation introduced to prevent them from doing so.

The only place the Sur-Ron electric motorcycle driven by Stokoe can be legally used is on private land.

Michael said: “It should be illegal for people to sell these e-bikes and scooters as it’s only a matter of time before someone else is killed. There needs to be greater joined up thinking with Trading Standards and new legislation should be brought in.”

Legal e-bikes and scooters are limited to a maximum motor-assisted speed of 15.5 mph.

The video attached to this article was provided by Northumbria Police with the permission and blessing of Mrs Stephenson’s family.