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.
‘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.’