A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for causing the death of an 86-year-old woman while riding an e-bike under the influence of cannabis. Billy Stokoe, who was high on cannabis and using his phone while riding, collided with Gloria Stephenson on a zebra crossing in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.. The incident, which occurred on May 16th last year, was captured on video , showing Stokoe's callous disregard for the victim as he retrieved his bike and fled the scene.

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According to Newcastle Crown Court, Stokoe was riding a defective Sur-Ron e-bike with a broken left-side brake and his mobile phone in his left hand. The bike had been purchased from a friend who advertised it for sale on Facebook. An examiner testified that the bike was not safe for road use, with the front brake missing entirely and many of its functions disabled. Stokoe's impairment from cannabis use and his distraction by the phone were aggravating factors in the case.

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The court heard that Stokoe had ridden for half a mile with the left-side brake on his e-bike broken and his mobile phone in his left hand. He did not see Mrs. Stephenson until he had hit her, making no attempt to take evasive actoin ahead of the crossing on Burdon Road in bright daylight at 1pm. The judge, Robert Adams, stated that Stokoe's phone use was not a momentary distraction but had been ongoing for a relatively long period.

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Gloria Stephenson, a retired Hospital Domestic Services Manager, was out walking her daughter's dog when the incident occurred. Her family expressed their outrage at the sentence, stating that Stokoe would serve less than three and a half years in jail. Julie Francis, the eldest daughter of Mrs. Stephenson,said, "It is absolutely disgusting and we are incandescent with rage. How can it possibly be justice when he will serve three years in prison for taking the life of our mother? It's appalling."

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After the incident, Stokoe handed himself in at a police station just over an hour later. He was seen pacing up and down the road with his hands to his head after going back to look at Mrs. Stephenson lying on the road. He sobbed after handing himself in to police. However, his family claims that he showed no remorse, as he was posting messsages on social media looking for tickets to a Halloween party.

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The judge also banned Stokoe from driving for eight years and four months, at which point he will have to sit an extended driving test. The sentence has sparked a debate about the adequacy of penalties for dangerous driving and the impact of drug use on road safety. The case highlights the need for stricter regulations on e-bikes and the dangers of distracted driving.