20 June 2024 , 13:48
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A woman has admitted to killing a disabled man who died after being robbed of his mobility scooter in a Tesco supermarket car park last year.
Kimberley Ann Hawkins, 41, has pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court to the manslaughter of mobility scooter user Neil Shadwick in Stroud, Gloucestershire, in January.
Mr Shadwick was found unresponsive in the Tesco superstore car park in the Costwolds town and without his mobility scooter, which he used as his regular transport.
Neil Shadwick (Collect)Mr Shadwick, of Stroud, died in Gloucestershire Royal Hospital the same day. He suffered from Parkinson's Disease and had suffered a stroke shortly before he died. He also had difficulty communicating verbally. He was found collapsed by a member of staff at the Tesco superstore at Stratford Park, Stroud, at around 6am on January 22.
The temperature at the time was minus four degrees. Mr Shadwick's mobility scooter was found later that same day, at around 9am abandoned in the town.
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Tributes were left for Neil Shadwick (SWNS)Last April, Hawkins admitted a charge of aggravated vehicle taking without consent this year and then being involved in an accident which caused injury to Neil Shadwick. Hawkins also pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Shadwick, causing him actual bodily harm, shortly before he collapsed and died.
At an earlier hearing the court was told that Mr Shadwick had Parkinson's Disease and had recently had a stroke. He had difficulty communicating verbally. He also had an implant installed in his body.
Hawkins appeared via video link from prison to the hearing at Bristol Crown Court, where she spoke to confirm her name and reply “guilty” when the charge was read to her.
Tributes to Neil Shadwick who died after a robbery in Stroud Tesco Superstore Carpark (SWNS)Judge Peter Blair KC, the Recorder of Bristol, adjourned the case for sentencing on a date to be fixed.
He told Hawkins: “Ms Hawkins, we need to obtain more information before a decision is made as to what sentences should be passed on you for these offences. That will include the probation service wanting to speak with you to prepare a report to advise me about what their assessment of you and your past and potential is.
“It will also enable any other matters to be got by your lawyers to present to me in mitigation. The prosecution will need time to submit any statements of family members of Neil Shadwick to express and explain the impact upon them of his death.
“The matter will be listed before me to sentence you. We can’t fix the date yet. It is going to be in August. You are going to be remanded in custody in the meantime.”
Mary Cowe appeared for the prosecution, while Sarah Jenkins represented Hawkins. Hawkins previously admitted charges of aggravated vehicle taking, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, in relation to the incident, in April 2023.