Pedestrian jailed for 3 years over cyclist pavement row death is ‘devastated’ by sentence & vows to appeal
A PEDESTRIAN caged for three-years for her role in an elderly cyclist’s death is “devastated” by her sentence and will appeal, a source says.
Auriol Grey, 49, gestured in a “hostile and aggressive” way to Celia Ward and told her to “get off the f***ing pavement”.
Moments later the 77-year-old veered off the sidewalk she was cycling down and into the road before being hit by a car.
Tragically Celia couldn’t be saved and was declared dead at the scene.
Grey has now been jailed for three years after she was convicted of manslaughter at Peterborough Crown Court on Thursday.
But the 49-year-old, who suffers from cognitive and mobility issues and is partially sighted, was hoping to be given a suspended jail term at worst.
A source close to her defence team said: “She was warned she could face a custodial sentence but had been anticipating a suspended sentence.
“She is shocked and devastated by the outcome.
“Her lawyer had desperately tried to get her out on bail while during an appeal process but it was a failed application.”
Grey is single and lives alone in an adapted home in Huntingdon, Cambs.
She is partially estranged from her mother, who according to sources, “has no interest in her daughter,” saying: “They never see each other but occasionally speak on the phone.”
Her sister died two years ago, and she has no husband or partner.
The source added: “She has no one in her life to help and support her, just one friend who has his own family but has been giving her lifts to court.
“It is a very sad situation to be in.”
But sentencing Grey on Thursday, Judge Sean Enright said she was “territorial about the pavement” and “resented” the cyclist being there.
The court was told about Grey’s health issues but the judge told her: “These actions are not explained by disability.”
Judge Enright also slammed her “dishonest account in [police] interview” and said there was “not a word about remorse until today”.
David, Celia’s husband of 53 years, said “rarely a day goes by without thinking of her” in a victim impact statement.
Gillian Hayter, Celia’s daughter, added: “The lack of any remorse from the accused cannot be underestimated in having a profound effect on us all.
“I can still remember the details of the conversation on hearing my mother was killed in a cycling accident.
“The panic and disbelief and shock of losing her in such an awful accident was hard to comprehend.
“But the news that it was not a tragic accident but a deliberate act of violence was incomprehensible.
“Mum is the least violent person.
“We have not had a chance to properly grieve and the court case has been a constant reminder to us that mum is no longer here.”
The two women were passing each other on the street in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, in October 2020 when the horror unfolded.
Grey could be seen raising her hand as Celia cycled towards her on the pavement.
The retired midwife then loses her balance and staggers into the road in the path of an oncoming VW Passat.
Shockingly, Grey then fled on foot to Sainsbury’s to buy her shopping as paramedics were scrambled to the scene.
Grey claimed she felt “anxious” as the bike was travelling “fast” in the middle of the pavement.
She also suggested she could have lifted her hand “unintentionally” as Celia cycled towards her.
The driver of the VW Passat now suffers from PTSD following the horror, which came on her way back from a playdate with her son.
Carla Money told the court her “whole life turned upside down”.
She added: “Not only did you knock my confidence but a piece of me was lost. A small piece of the Carla everyone knew went that day.
“I no longer have a happy-go-lucky personality.
“I couldn’t face speaking to people. Because of your selfish actions my children suffered, they lost their mum.
“Mummy didn’t want to be around them or play with them. I struggled to get out of bed and was snappy.
“My relationship has collapsed with my husband so much we are getting divorced. My children aged seven and four now have to deal with separated parents.”
Although it is illegal to cycle on the pavement, the court was told police could not “categorically” state whether the street was a shared cycleway.
Det Sgt Mark Dollard, who interviewed Grey, 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.”
