A pedestrian has been jailed for manslaughter after shouting and waving at a cyclinst on the pavement, causing her to fall into the path of an oncoming car.
Auriol Grey, who has cerebral palsy, shouted at retired midwife Celia Ward to "get off the f*****g pavement" in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire which caused her to fall onto the road. Mrs Ward, 77, of Wyton, Cambridgeshire, was then struck by a car, resulting in her death on October 20, 2020.
The 49-year-old denied manslaughter but was found guilty following a retrial at Peterborough Crown Court. Judge Sean Enright, sentencing Grey to three years in prison, said: "These actions are not explained by disability."
He added that Grey had no mental disorder or learning difficulties and that the pavement was 2.4 metres wide at the relevant point, higlighting that it was a "shared path on the ring road". Mrs Ward’s widower, retired RAF pilot David Ward, said in a statement read to the court by prosecutor Simon Spence KC that the “clip of Celia’s last moments will haunt me forever”.
“Rarely a day goes by without thinking of her and our happy life together but I can so easily burst into tears, as I have on so many occasions,” he said. He said they met in 1965 and in their retirement enjoyed playing golf and seeing the world on cruise holidays.
“I miss her terribly and after a year-and-a-half on my own felt the need to sell our house of 34 years and relocated to a retirement village near Romsey (in Hampshire),” he said. He added that he did his to be closer to family, including their daughter Gillian Hayter.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Hayter spoke of her mother's "senseless and needless death lying in the road without those who loved her”. The driver of the car which collided with Mrs Ward, Carla Money, who was with her two-year-old daughter at the time, said that her life was “turned upside down” by what happened.
Miranda Moore KC, mitigating for Grey, said: “What happened took but a moment that has impacted on many.” She said that Grey’s “present opinion is where the pavements are narrow the cyclists… should cycle on the road”.
“There was no intention to cause harm or an obvious risk of harm,” she said. She said witnesses had said that Grey “seemed childlike”, and that she lived in adapted special accommodation.
Detective Sergeant Mark Dollard, who investigated, said: “This is a difficult and tragic case.
“Everyone will have their own views of cyclists on pavements and cycleways, but what is clear is Grey’s response to the presence of Celia on a pedal cycle was totally disproportionate and ultimately found to be unlawful, resulting in Celia’s untimely and needless death.
“I am pleased with the verdict and hope it is a stark reminder to all road users to take care and be considerate to each other. I want to take the time to acknowledge Celia’s family and thank them for their patience and dignity throughout the entirety of the investigation and trial.”
In a statement released through police after sentencing, Mr Ward said: “After 53 years of happy marriage, Celia was taken from me in a most horrific way, leaving me with my memories.
“She was kind, calm, careful, cheerful and competent in all that she did. Her death has caused me great suffering. We relied on each other, shared the same sense of humour and outlook on life, and enjoyed each other’s company.
“I miss her terribly.”
Her daughter Gillian added in a statement released through police: “Celia Ward was my mum, mother-in-law to my husband and much-loved grandmother to my son, but most importantly, the love of my father’s life.
“Her untimely death has turned our world on its head and there isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t wish I could pick up the phone to ask her advice, celebrate the special events in our lives or just tell her how much I love her. It’s easy to say how wonderful my mum was… she was passionate about her family and always there to help and support us.
“She was of a generation that made and mended, kept a spotless house and always put others first. Her death has marred what should have been some of the most enjoyable times for us as a family.
“We can never forget the past two-and-a-half years, but it’s now time to start remembering the wonderful memories and times we had with mum, and hopefully find some peace.”
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