A 19‑year‑old Sunderland man, Billy Stokoe, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for causing the death of 86‑year‑old Gloria Stephenson on a zebra crossing in May 2025. The sentence will be reviewed under the Unduly Lenient Scheme after the family’s appeal.

Six‑Year Sentence Sparks Family Outrage

Gloria Stephenson, who was walking her daughter’s dog and aiming to hit her daily 10,000‑step goal, was struck by Stokoe while riding a Sur Ron e‑bike. according to the report, Stokoe was high on cannabis and holding his mobile phone when the collision occurred.. The family, especially daughter Julie Francis,said the sentence was too lenient and that the judge failed to send a strong message.

Unduly Lenient Scheme Review Begins

The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed it is appealing the length of Stokoe’s sentence under the Unduly Lenient Scheme. A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office said law officers have 28 days to decide whether the sentence should be increased. this follows the family’s request for a harsher penalty.

Legal Context: E‑bike Laws and Enforcement

Julie Francis highlighted that e‑bike use is illegal on public roads, yet enforcement is lax... The report notes that Stokoe fled the scene, retrieved the e‑bike, and hid it at a friend’s home before surrendering to police. the case raises questions about how e‑bike regulations are applied and whether stricter enforcement could prevent simiilar incidents.

Open Question: Was Substance Use a Key Factor?

While the report states Stokoe was high on cannabis at the time of the crash,it does not detail how this impacted his driving ability or whether a medical assessment was conducted. the family and some commentators are demanding a clearer link between drug use and the severity of the offence.