Bury St Edmunds mum Carla Money speaks of lasting impact after cyclist shooed into path of her vehicle in Huntingdon and died
A Suffolk mum has described how her life was turned upside down after a cyclist was shooed into the path of her vehicle and was killed.
In a statement to a court where a pedestrian was sentenced for manslaughter, mum-of-two Carla Money, of Bury St Edmunds, gave her account of the incident in Huntingdon on October 20, 2020 when Celia Ward, 77, fell into the path of her car.
Auriol Grey, 49, a partially-blind and disabled pedestrian, had been angered by the retired midwife as she was riding on the pavement and was jailed for three years after she gestured in a 'hostile and aggressive way' towards Mrs Ward, a court heard.
Ms Grey, who was described as 'childlike,' was convicted of manslaughter last week and appeared before Peterborough Crown Court for sentencing yesterday.
In a victim impact statement Ms Money, who was driving a VW Passat, spoke of the untold trauma she had experienced since that day.
She said: "On October 20 my whole life turned upside down. It has taken two years to gain the confidence to drive and take my children out on my own because of your selfish actions on this day.
"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 and 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. I now suffer from long-term Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
"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.
"My heart aches for Mrs Ward's family, they are forever in my heart."
CCTV footage recorded Ms Grey shouting 'get off the f***ing pavement' just moments before Mrs Ward wobbled into the road and into the path of a VW Passat.
Mrs Ward was pronounced dead at the scene following the incident on October 20, 2020 in Huntingdon, Cambs.
The court had previously heard that police inquiries had failed to establish whether the pavement was a shared cycle-way or not.
Yesterday Judge Sean Enright, passing sentence, said he acknowledged the partial blindness, cognitive and mobility issues and cerebral palsy that Ms Grey suffered from.
However, he added: "It does not reduce your understanding of right or wrong. You have not expressed a word about remorse until today in the pre-sentencing notes.
"I accept the explanation from the counsel and that the difficulty you would face in custody and afterwards are considerable."
Prior to sentencing a victim impact statement was read to the court.
Gillian Hayter, Celia's daughter, said: "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."
In a probation officer's report read in court today it stated that Ms Grey has "difficulty expressing emotions of any sort overtly, but does write them down".
Ms Grey, of Bradbury Place, Huntingdon, has cerebral palsy, partial blindness and cognitive and mobility issues.
Ms Grey's barrister Miranda Moore KC said: "That is her way of communicating the distress, remorse and empathy she feels for all the people involved and she showed these notes to the officer.
"She does not express emotions as you or I might, but the probation officer was able to be aware of them and the acknowledgement of the devastating impact her actions have had on all."
The probation officer also underlined the defendant's vulnerability if placed in the prison system.
Her barrister said Ms Grey has been described as childlike and it was the probation officer's opinion that Ms Grey did not pose an ongoing risk to the community.
She added that Ms Grey lived in adapted special accommodation with no family and only one friend to rely on, therefore had nowhere to place her possessions if put into the prison system.
Due to her multiple difficulties she is also vulnerable to exploitation by other prisoners.
The lawyer continued: "She has nobody to support her apart from a friend and no family support at all. She has no financial support at all other than state benefits.
"If she goes to prison today she would lose her home and has no one to store her possessions. She doesn't know what would happen to them."
The prosecution claimed Grey was 'angered by the presence of a cyclist on a footpath' with a provisional cause of death established as 'severe chest injury'.
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 police interview, Grey 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 she 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 police could not categorically state whether the pavement was a shared cycleway.
Mrs Ward, from Wyton, Cambs, was described as a "quiet, industrious and loving wife and mother" and was left behind by her husband David, daughter Jill and grandchild Douglas.
Mrs Ward's husband David Ward issued this statement following the sentence: “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.”
Celia’s daughter Gillian said: “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.”
