Woman, 49, who swore at cyclist, 77, before she was fatally struck by car arrives for sentencing
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A disabled woman who shooed away an elderly cyclist moments before she was fatally struck by a car has been jailed for three years for her manslaughter.
Auriol Gray, 49, gestures towards grandmother Celia Ward, 77, and tells her to ‘get off the bloody pavement’ as she rides her bike on a footpath in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on October 20, 2020.
CCTV footage showed how, shortly after being reprimanded by Grey, retired midwife Ms Ward veered onto the road before being struck by a car that failed to stop. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Grey, who suffers from cerebral palsy, denied manslaughter but was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison after being found guilty in an earlier retrial. His lawyer promised to appeal, arguing that “there was no intent to cause harm.”
Judge Sean Enright, in sentencing Grey, said his actions “could not be explained by his disability.”
Auriol Gray (pictured arriving for sentencing today), 49, angrily punched Celia Ward, 77, and told her to “get off the bloody pavement”, Peterborough Crown Court heard.
Grandmother Celia Ward, 77, (pictured with her husband David) was killed in the collision in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, after 49-year-old Auriol Gray raised his hand and cursed as he walked past her on the pavement .
He said Grey, from Huntingdon, did not have any mental disorders or learning difficulties and that the pavement was 2.4 meters wide at the relevant point, describing it as a “shared path on the ring road”.
Ms Ward’s widower, retired RAF pilot David Ward, said in a statement read out in court by prosecutor Simon Spence KC that “the clip of Celia’s last moments will haunt me forever.”
“Rarely does a day go by without thinking of her and our happy life together, but I can break down in tears so easily, as I have on so many occasions,” he said.
The couple met in 1965 and in their retirement enjoyed playing golf and seeing the world on their cruise vacations, the court was told.
“I miss her terribly and after a year and a half on my own I felt the need to sell our house of 34 years and move to a retirement village near Romsey (in Hampshire),” Ward said.
He added that he did this to be closer to family, including his daughter Gillian Hayter.
In a victim impact statement read in court, Ms Hayter recounted the “needless and senseless death of her mother lying on the road without those who loved her”.
The driver of the car that collided with Ms Ward, Carla Money, who was with her two-year-old daughter at the time, said her life was “turned upside down” by what happened.
Miranda Moore KC, a mitigator for Grey, said: “What happened took just a moment that has shocked many.”
She said that Grey’s “current view is that where the sidewalks are narrow, cyclists … should ride their bikes on the road.”
“There was no intent to cause harm or an obvious risk of harm,” it said.
CCTV footage showed Gray (pictured arriving at court on Thursday), who has cerebral palsy, raising his hand as Ms Ward lost her balance and landed on the road.
Auriol Grey, 49, made an angry gesture at Celia Ward, 77, and told her to “get off the bloody pavement” while cycling in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, in October 2020.
The pavement Gray was walking on when he chased away 77-year-old cyclist Celia Ward
Gray (pictured in post-arrest mugshot), who suffers from cerebral palsy, denied manslaughter but was sentenced to three years in prison today after being found guilty at trial.
She said witnesses had said Gray “looked like a child” and was living in special adapted accommodation.
After the judge handed down his sentence on Thursday, Ms Moore indicated that an appeal would be lodged against this and a request for bail would be made.
In a statement released by police after the sentencing, Mr Ward said: “After 53 years of happy marriage, Celia was taken from me in the most horrific way, leaving me with my memories.”
“She was kind, calm, careful, cheerful and competent in everything she did.
His death has caused me great suffering. We trusted each other, shared the same sense of humor and outlook on life, and enjoyed each other’s company. I miss her terribly.
His daughter Gillian added in a statement released by police: “Celia Ward was my mother, my husband’s mother-in-law and my son’s beloved grandmother, but most importantly, the love of my father’s life.
“His untimely death has turned our world upside down and not a day goes by that I don’t wish I could pick up the phone to ask him for advice, celebrate the special events in our lives or just tell him how.” I love her very much.
‘It’s easy to say how wonderful my mother was…she was passionate about her family and was always there to help and support us.
‘She was from a generation that made and mended, kept a spotless home, and always put others first.
“Her death has put a damper on what should have been one of the most enjoyable moments for us as a family.
“We can never forget the last two and a half years, but now is the time to start looking back on the wonderful memories and times we had with Mom and hopefully find some peace.”
Footage showed Ms Ward lost her balance and fell onto the road, where she was struck by a car.
Following Grey’s conviction, Detective Sergeant Mark Dollard (pictured outside court on Thursday), said: “This was a difficult and tragic case.” Everyone will have their own views on cyclists, sidewalks and bike lanes, but what is clear is that Auriol Grey’s response to Celia’s presence on a pedal bike was totally disproportionate and ultimately found to be illegal. , resulting in Celia’s untimely and unnecessary death.
Prosecutor Simon Spence KC previously told the court how the two women crossed paths when Gray “gesticulated in a hostile and aggressive manner” towards Ms Ward.
Peterborough Crown Court previously heard that Gray left the scene on foot before emergency services arrived and headed to a nearby Sainsbury’s to buy groceries.
After officers brought her in for questioning, Gray explained that she had vision problems and was feeling “anxious” because the bike was traveling “quickly” in the middle of the pavement.
He added that he may have “accidentally” raised his hand.
The Highways Act of 1835 makes it illegal to cycle on the pavement, with a fine of up to £500.
In this case, however, officers were unable to determine if the pavement was a shared bike lane.
Following Grey’s conviction, Detective Sergeant Mark Dollard, who interviewed her, said: “This was a difficult and tragic case.”
Google Maps view of the road in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, where Ms Ward was fatally struck by a car in October 2020
“Everyone will have their own views on cyclists, sidewalks and bike lanes, but what is clear is that Auriol Gray’s response to Celia’s presence on a pedal bike was totally disproportionate and it was ultimately found that it was illegal, resulting in Celia’s untimely and unnecessary death.
“I am pleased with the verdict and hope it is a stark reminder to all road users to take care and be considerate of one another.
“I want to take the time to acknowledge Celia’s family and thank them for their patience and dignity throughout the investigation and trial.”
It is estimated that two cyclists die on average each week in traffic accidents, while another 84 are seriously injured.
Most of the incidents occur on rural roads and about half when a car collides with a bicycle.
The number of cyclists killed in road accidents reached a 14-year high in 2020 when 140 deaths were recorded, the highest number since 2006.
The average person reportedly cycles 88 miles each year, while 47 percent of adults owned or had access to a bicycle.
A parliamentary study published in 2021 found that fatal cyclist collisions caused by pedestrians were extremely rare, with only five such incidents in 2019.
Among the pedestrians killed in traffic accidents between 2005 and 2018, only six were killed by a cyclist, while 548 were killed by vehicles.