THE grieving family of a gran knocked down and killed by a yob on an electric motorbike have demanded action to halt the deadly menace sweeping the country.
Billy Stokoe, 18, ploughed into Gloria Stephenson, 86, on a zebra crossing while she was walking her daughter’s dog.
Billy Stokoe was high on cannabis and on his phone when he smashed into gran Gloria Stephenson Credit: SWNS
Gloria Stephenson, front, and her daughters who are demanding tighter laws for electronic motorbikes Credit: SWNS
Stokoe pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to six years and nine months in youth detention Credit: SWNS
The bike Stokoe was riding was unroadworthy – with many functions disabled and a missing front brake Credit: SWNS
He was high on and scrolling on his phone as he raced along on his defective bike which only had one brake.
The gran of 13 died at the scene from horrific injuries while to hide his bike.
He was locked up after admitting causing death by dangerous driving but her family were appalled to learn he will serve just over three years.
They have now spoken to to express their anger at the pitiful sentence and to call for tougher action to combat youths careering around on in the hope of ensuring no other family suffers like they have.
Daughter Julie Francis said: “We haven’t even been able to grieve for our mum and we still can’t because we’re so upset at the sentence.
“The thought of her being killed in that way and left to die at the side of the road – the anger consumes you.”
Gloria, a retired health authority domestic services manager, was walking her daughter Lisa’s dog at 1pm on May 16 2025 when the crash occurred in .
Stokoe, his face hidden by a balaclava, was riding a Sur-ron Light Bee X which has a top speed of 47mph and can do 0-30mph in 2.7 seconds, faster than most cars.
He had bought it on but it was unroadworthy – many functions were disabled and the front brake was missing.
The teen was unable to pull the back brake as he was carrying his phone in his left hand.
Shocking dashcam footage showed him slam into Gloria knocking her to the ground as he spun off his machine.
As the traumatised pooch went to check on Gloria, Stokoe got to his feet, climbed back on the bike and sped off, heading to a friend’s house to hide it and change his clothes.
after a police appeal.
Stokoe admitted causing death by dangerous driving while unlicensed and uninsured and under the influence of cannabis and was sentenced to six years and nine months in youth detention and banned from driving for eight years at Newcastle Crown Court.
But he will be out in less than three-and-a-half years, leaving her four daughters furious.
Retired teacher Julie, 64, of Sunderland, added: “The irony of it is she’d gone out of her way to use the zebra crossing, thinking that was the safest way to cross the road.
“My sister’s dog was tagged, so someone was able to ring her. She lives locally so she was there within minutes and was there with my mum as she lay dying.
“I got told by my partner that my mum had had an accident and that she hadn’t made it.
“I assumed she’d stepped out into the road and someone who had been speeding had a momentary loss of concentration and had hit her.
“It never occurred to me that it would have been the circumstances it was – someone riding an illegal bike while off his head on cannabis.
“She was a strong, independent woman who loved to travel and was well-respected.
“She really was a force of nature, very principled, very community-minded, but always ready to have a laugh and a giggle – often at her own expense.”
Gloria’s daughters are ‘absolutely furious’ at the killer driver’s ‘insulting’ sentence Credit: SWNS
The family have been waiting for Stokoe’s day in court, but feel ‘let down’ by the sentence passed Credit: SWNS
Stokoe’s own mother took him to the police station Credit: SWNS
One of Gloria’s daughters arrived at her mum’s side within minutes, but Gloria tragically passed at the scene Credit: SWNS
The family are now campaigning for action to crack down on the use of illegal electric .
Julie added: “Maybe a starting point would be for all of them, whether they’re off-road or not, to be registered with the and have a number plate.
“And if there was a stronger deterrent, maybe people wouldn’t do it in the first place.
“Parents also need to take responsibility for their children’s actions.
“Billy Stokoe’s family knew he had bought his bike on Facebook and he admitted that it wasn’t safe to drive.
“And neighbours must see these young people leaving their homes on illegal bikes with their faces covered in balaclavas – they need to ring the .”
Much of their anger, though, is directed at Judge Robert Adams who dished out the sentence to Stokoe at court.
Julie went on: “This message should have come from the judge.
“He had a chance to give these people a really strong message, much more meaningful than anything I could say, but he’s missed an opportunity – and that’s the saddest and most infuriating thing.
“Nothing is ever going to bring our mum back – we recognise that – but does the judge really think her life is worth just three years, four months, and two weeks in jail?
“It’s an absolute insult to our mum, to the whole of our family.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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