TIG Post

Tag: Celia Ward

  • Handicapped woman sentenced to prison for killing cyclist on pavement

    Handicapped woman sentenced to prison for killing cyclist on pavement

    An appeal has been filed by the pedestrian who was found guilty of killing a cyclist by pointing at her before she rode into oncoming traffic.

    After a video of Auriol Grey waving at 77-year-old retired midwife Celia Ward and urging her to “get off the f**king pavement” was shown in court, Auriol Grey was sentenced to three years in prison last week.

    A VW Tiguan hit Celia when she fell off her bike and into the road in the following seconds because it was unable to stop in time.

    A jury at Peterborough Crown Court found manslaughter-related charges against Grey, who has cerebral palsy.

    The 49-year-old was later said to be ‘shocked and devastated’ by the outcome, and a bail application from her defence team failed.

    A spokeswoman at the Criminal Appeal Court said: ‘I can confirm that this person has recently lodged an application for leave to appeal sentence.’

    She added: ‘As we have only just received this application we do not know when this case will be listed.’

    Pedestrian jailed for three years after gesture to cyclist, 77, leads to her death

    At Grey’s trial, the court heard police were unable to ‘categorically’ confirm whether the pavement in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, was a shared cycleway.

    However, in sentencing, Judge Sean Enright noted that it was a ‘shared path’ for cyclists and pedestrians.

    He said: ‘I am sure you knew cyclists used the path, and were not taken by surprise.’

    Grey is partially sighted and has cerebral palsy (Picture: PA)
    Retired midwife Celia Ward with her husband David.

    In her police interview, Grey, who has cerebral palsy, told officers she was partially sighted and described the bicycle as travelling fast in the centre of the pavement.

    She said she was ‘anxious that I was going to get hit by it’, adding she ‘may have unintentionally put’ out her hand to protect herself.

    Her barrister, Miranda Moore KC, argued in court: ‘There was no intention to cause harm or an obvious risk of harm.’

    But the judge said Grey’s actions ‘are not explained by disability’ and described her as being ‘territorial about the pavement’, adding: ‘You resented the presence of an oncoming cyclist.’

    After the conviction, Detective Sergeant Mark Dollard described the case as ‘difficult and tragic’.

    He said: ‘Everyone will have their own views on cyclists, pavements and cycleways but what is clear is Auriol 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.’

  • A pedestrian dies after been hit down by a car

    A pedestrian dies after been hit down by a car

    After yelling at a cyclist who later passed away, a pedestrian will be jailed for manslaughter today.

    Celia Ward, a retired midwife, was told to “get off the f**king pavement” by Auriol Grey, 49, who made an aggressive and unpleasant gesture in her direction.

    A Volkswagen Passat that was unable to stop in time struck her as she stumbled into the road a short while later, killing her instantly.

    According to the prosecutor, Simon Spence KC, the two women were traveling in different directions on the ring road’s pavement in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

    In her police interview, Grey, who has cerebral palsy, told officers she was partially sighted and described the bicycle as travelling fast in the centre of the pavement.

    She said she was ‘anxious that I was going to get hit by it’, adding she ‘may have unintentionally put’ out her hand to protect herself.

    It is illegal to cycle on the pavement, but the court heard police were unable to ‘categorically’ confirm whether the pavement was a shared cycleway.

    Mr Dollard said: ‘This is a difficult and tragic case.

    Auriol Grey, 49, gestured in a ‘hostile and aggressive way’ towards 77-yearr-old retired midwife Celia Ward
    Auriol Grey, 49, gestured in a ‘hostile and aggressive way’ towards 77-year-old retired midwife Celia Ward (Picture: SWNS)
    Celia Ward, pictured with her husband David, died at the scene (Picture: Cambridgeshire Police/SWNS)

    ‘Everyone will have their own views on cyclists, pavements and cycleways but what is clear is Auriol 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.’

  • Partially-sighted pedestrian with cerebral palsy apprehended of manslaughter after cyclist deadth

    Partially-sighted pedestrian with cerebral palsy apprehended of manslaughter after cyclist deadth

    After being confronted about riding on the pavement, a 77-year-old cyclist fell into the path of a car, leading to the conviction of a partially-sighted, cerebrally-impaired pedestrian for manslaughter.

    Celia Ward, a retired midwife, was confronted by Auriol Grey, 49, in a “hostile and aggressive way,” after which she stumbled into the path of a speeding car.

    The moment Grey yelled at Mrs. Ward to “get off the [expletive] pavement” was caught on camera and played to Peterborough Crown Court in Cambridge.

    A VW Passat strikes Mrs. Ward after she appears to stumble off the pavement and into the traffic in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. After being found guilty of manslaughter, Grey of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, will be sentenced on March 2.

    The court heard the two women passed each other in opposite directions on the pavement of the town’s ring road pavement on October 20, 2020.

    The prosecution claimed Grey was “angered by the presence of a cyclist on a footpath”.

    Prosecutor Simon Spence KC said Grey shouted at Mrs Ward and “gestured in a hostile and aggressive way towards” her, causing her to fall off the bike and into the road, where she was hit by an oncoming car.

    Jurors heard the vehicle had no chance to stop or take avoiding action and Mrs Ward died at the scene.

    The court heard Grey left prior to emergency services arriving and went to Sainsbury’s where she bought groceries.

    In a police interview, Grey, who has cerebral palsy, told officers she was partially sighted and described the pedal cycle as travelling “fast” in the centre of the pavement.

    She stated she was “anxious that I was going to get hit by it”, adding she “may have unintentionally put” out her hand to protect herself.

    But after being shown the CCTV footage, interviewing officer Det Sgt Mark Dollard asked her why she said what she said, to which she responded: “I don’t know.”

    The court was told the police could not “categorically” state whether the pavement was a shared cycleway.

    After the verdict, Det Sgt Dollard said: “This is a difficult and tragic case.

    “Everyone will have their own views on cyclists, pavements and cycleways but what is clear is Auriol 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.”