Billy Stokoe, 19, admitted causing the death of Gloria Stephenson, 86, by dangerous driving while using an e-bike – Stokoe was speeding and on a mobile at the time of the accident
This is the face of the teenager who killed a pensioner on a Zebra crossing after he hit her on his electric bike while speeding and using a mobile phone.
Billy Stokoe, 19, admitted causing the death of Gloria Stephenson, 86, by dangerous driving at Newcastle crown court. The ‘beautiful, intelligent’ mum-of-four died at the scene in her hometown of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear last May.
Witnesses said Stokoe was on his mobile phone at the time of the collision, which was captured on the dashcam footage of a passing motorist. He covered up his face as he entered and left court; but police have released a custody photo after he admitted causing death while driving unlicensed, and causing death while driving a vehicle uninsured.
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The case was adjourned to May 15 for sentencing. Judge Robert Adams granted Stokoe bail, but warned ‘all sentencing options’ were open to him.
Gloria, who had four daughters, 13 grandchildren and five great grandchildren, was “very fit and active” and in her trainers, doing her 10,000 steps for the day when she died. She was walking her daughter’s pet dog when tragedy struck.
One of her daughters arrived at the scene with Gloria’s grandson as attempts were being made to resuscitate her. But all efforts to save her were in vain.
“It has happened before and it will happen again,” her family said. The great grandmother enjoyed travelling the world and had three holidays booked at the time of her death.
Stokoe covered his face as he entered and left court at previous hearings. He entered guilty pleas to the two lesser charges but the case was delayed last week. In a statement following her death, Gloria’s family said: “It is with great sadness that our amazing mam, Gloria Stephenson, was tragically killed on May 16.
“We are all devastated at the loss of our vibrant, active, beautiful, and intelligent mam, grandma, mother-in-law and great grandma. Our mam was full of life. She was active, fit, healthy, and had years left to give her love and share her energy and zest for life with everyone who knew her. The family want to express their heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported mam, and her daughter and grandson at the scene.”
Chike Anieto, prosecuting, told magistrates on South Tyneside in January: “On May 16 2025, the defendant was riding a Sur-ron electric bike in Sunderland at around 2.50 pm and collided with Gloria Stephenson, an 86-year-old woman who was crossing the road on a Zebra crossing.
“The collision was fatal and led to her death. It was captured on dashcam footage which showed the defendant did not slow down for the crossing and collided directly with Gloria Stephenson. There was witness evidence to say that he was speeding and holding his mobile phone. There were a total of six witnesses in the area and the police have done intensive forensic examination, and there is a post mortem report.”
He added that the offence of causing death by dangerous driving carried a maximum life sentence with a range of up to 18 years.
