A woman imprisoned for causing the death of an elderly cyclist after waving and cursing at her led a “sad and lonely” existence beset by chronic health issues and estranged from her family, MailOnline can reveal.
Auriol Grey, 49, has been described as having “only one friend” and being “childlike” and “vulnerable” as she struggled through her challenging life on her own.
She struggles to make ends meet, also suffers from cerebral palsy, is partially blind and has cognitive problems, which limit her mobility.
Earlier this week, Gray was sentenced to three years in prison for manslaughter after she gestured in a “hostile and aggressive” manner to 77-year-old Celia Ward, telling her to “get off the goddamn sidewalk” as she cycled towards her in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire in October 2020.
The incident led to Mrs Ward riding onto the road before falling over the front of her bicycle and being hit by a car that failed to stop. She was pronounced dead on the spot.
Gray’s KC has now warned that her disabled client is now at risk of losing her home.
Miranda Moore KC said Gray has “nobody to support her except a friend and no family at all.” She has no financial support at all other than a benefit from the state.
“If she goes to jail today, she would lose her home and have no one to store her belongings. She doesn’t know what would happen to them.’
Auriol Gray, 49, who has been described as having ‘only one friend’ and being ‘childlike’, was given a three-year prison sentence after telling Celia Ward, 77, to ‘get off the goddamn curb’
In October 2020, Ms Ward swerved onto the road and was hit by a car. She was pronounced dead on the spot
Following her sentencing at the Peterborough Crown Court, the full details of Gray’s defiant existence begin to emerge.
Never married or partnered, she has lived alone for the past 17 years in an adapted home in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, where she has depended on government benefits for her financial survival.
Her ground floor basic apartment is run by a charity that provides homes for disabled people who want to live independently. Gray is one of about 20 residents living in the specially designed block.
Neighbors revealed how she was known for her short temper, was seen as a ‘loner’ and was often heard yelling and swearing in her flat.
Winston Ward, who lives opposite Gray, told MailOnline: ‘We have paper thin walls and sometimes I could hear her having heated phone conversations with people, telling them to fuck off!
“I never knew who she went to, but it was on the phone because she never had visitors.”
Earlier this week, Grey, pictured, was convicted of manslaughter after she beckoned Celia ‘hostilely and aggressively’ to get off the curb
Footage captured the moment Ms Ward fell over the front of her bike and was hit by a car that failed to stop
Mr Ward, 60, who is confined to a wheelchair, added: ‘She was a bit of a loner and only had one friend.
“She had a daily routine and always left home around 8 to go for a walk. She walked with a split in one leg for support, and although she had mobility issues, she enjoyed walking.
“She lived here for at least 17 years and cooked and took care of herself, but she had supporters to help.
“She always has her front door ajar.”
Another neighbor added: ‘Life was difficult for her, but it is also for all of us here, because we all have some kind of disability. But that doesn’t mean you can’t smile and be nice.
“I always saw her, but we never spoke because it was clear she wasn’t interested. She was sad and lonely, had little help and didn’t want to do anything about it. No one has ever visited her and I’ve never seen her with friends.’
Grey, a former Norfolk Convent schoolgirl, is almost completely estranged from her family and barely talks to her mother who, according to sources, has “no interest in her daughter.”
A source said, “They never see each other, but occasionally talk on the phone.”
Her sister Genny, seven years her senior, died two years ago, but even before that, the two rarely had contact.
Site of fatal accident – a one-way street in Nursery Road, seven minutes’ walk from Auriol’s house. She was walking down the sidewalk to nearby stores when she confronted the retired cyclist
Genny lived with her partner and three children in a lavish £2 million house in Chiswick, west London, and had little to do with her younger sibling.
A family source said: “They didn’t have much in common and led very different lives. Auriol lived a very lonely life, which made her very grumpy and made things difficult for her.
“Everything was a huge challenge because she managed on her own and had no support network.”
During her trial, Gray was accompanied to court by her only friend who drove her to Peterborough each day.
Prior to sentencing, her attorney Miranda Moore KC told Judge Sean Enright: “She has no one to support her except a friend and no family at all. She has no financial support at all other than a benefit from the state.
“If she goes to jail today, she would lose her home and have no one to store her belongings. She doesn’t know what would happen to them.’
But the judge said her actions were “not explained by disability” when he sentenced her to three years in prison.
He added that Grey, from Huntingdon, had no mental disorder or learning difficulties and that the pavement at the relevant point was eight feet wide, describing it as a ‘shared path on the ring road’.
Judge Enright acknowledged the partial blindness, cognitive and mobility problems, and cerebral palsy from which Gray suffered. But he added: “It doesn’t diminish your understanding of right or wrong.
Auriol Gray arrives at Peterborough Crown Court, Cambridgeshire, earlier this week for sentencing in the manslaughter of Mrs Ward
During her trial, Gray was accompanied to court by her only friend who drove her to Peterborough each day
“You haven’t expressed a word of regret in the pre-sentencing notes until today. I accept counsel’s explanation and that the difficulties you will experience in custody and afterwards are considerable.’
A probation officer report prepared in court also underscored Ms Grey’s vulnerability, highlighting that she had difficulty expressing her emotions due to her mental state.
Gray was described as “childlike” and the parole officer believed she “posed no ongoing risk to the community.”
The report said that while she couldn’t verbalize emotions, she could write them down.
Mrs Moore said: ‘That is her way of conveying the distress, remorse and empathy she feels for all the people involved and she showed these notes to the officer.
“She doesn’t express emotions the way you or I might, but the probation officer was aware and recognized the devastating impact her actions have had on everyone.”
Because of her difficult living conditions and health, Ms. Grey’s lawyers plan to appeal the three-year prison sentence, which has been described by disability activists as “unreasonably harsh”.
Fazilet Hadi, head of policy at Disability Rights UK, told MailOnline: ‘This was a truly tragic incident, with Celia losing her life, and I feel sadness and sympathy for all involved. The punishment given to Auriol seems extremely severe.
‘With the increasing number of cyclists, we need good separation of pedestrians, cyclists and cars, so that we can keep each other safe. The government and municipalities must review the guidelines to guarantee safe streets.’
