A homeless drug addict has been jailed for six and a half years after stealing a vulnerable man’s mobility scooter and leaving him to die in freezing conditions.
Gloucester Crown Court heard Neil Shadwick, who had severe Parkinson’s, was dragged along the road in Stroud, Gloucestershire, as Kimberley Ann Hawkins sped away from a supermarket.
The 63-year-old was left abandoned in freezing temperatures, between -4C and -6C, for several hours and later died in hospital.
The court heard Hawkins, 41, had gone with Mr Shadwick to two cashpoints at about 2.30am on 22 January 2023 to get money, after a sexual encounter.
CCTV showed the father-of-two and the defendant riding together on the scooter as they arrived at the second cashpoint at a Tesco superstore.
When Mr Shadwick reached over to use the cash machine Hawkins jumped into the seat and sped off, leaving Mr Shadwick desperately holding on.
Mary Cowe, prosecuting, told the court the footage showed the defendant “continuing to move on without stopping” and dragging Mr Shadwick along the road.
“This was a man who was physically vulnerable… [who had] slurred speech and difficulty walking” adding that Hawkins “had known him for many months and had been intimate with him.
“His degree of vulnerability would have been obvious to her even if she had just met him.”
Ms Cowe said Hawkins had “told a friend she had performed sexual favours for Mr Shadwick and he couldn’t pay”.
Hawkins, who was wearing a coat, scarf, hat and gloves because the temperature was about -4C, abandoned the scooter after it ran out of battery.
The mobility scooter Hawkins stole. Pic: Gloucestershire Police
Mr Shadwick fell off the scooter near the Tesco petrol station and crawled back to the cashpoint before collapsing until he was discovered as supermarket staff arrived for work at about 5.45am.
In the ambulance, Mr Shadwick was able to say “Kim” and “robbery” before he was taken to hospital, where he died later that day.
Hawkins, of no fixed address, had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, aggravated vehicle taking and assault occasioning actual bodily harm relating to Mr Shadwick. She also admitted separate unrelated theft and drug offences.
‘Horrified’ by CCTV footage
Mr Shadwick’s daughter Victoria Bentley said her father must have been “terrified” when he was left alone and was “horrified” when she watched the CCTV footage.
In a victim impact statement she said: “He didn’t have a phone and he had no way of getting any help. He must have been terrified realising that he’d been abandoned and not knowing when or if help would arrive.”
Judge Peter Blair KC, Recorder of Bristol, imposed a sentence of six years for manslaughter and a consecutive six month term for other offences.
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The court also heard a statement from Mr Shadwick’s sister Tania Rickards who said: “He must have been in so much pain. Neil didn’t deserve to be treated and abandoned in such a way. I am so proud of the clues he gave the police.”
Sarah Jenkins, defending, claimed there was “no premeditation” and described Hawkins as “a lone female, a drug addict who provided sexual services for payment to fund a Class A drug addiction”.
“It is going to be a life-long regret, and she wishes if she could turn back time she would,” she said.
‘Callous’ and ‘heart breaking’
During sentencing remarks, the judge told Hawkins: “You knew he was vulnerable from your interactions with him.
“He was left alone without anybody to get help on a freezing night for some three hours before the employees of Tesco arrived for work,” he said.
Detective Inspector Adam Stacey, who led the investigation, said: “Hawkins’ actions were callous, and they had fatal consequences for a man whom she knew was extremely vulnerable.
“The footage is heart breaking to watch… the family feel robbed that they didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to Neil, as he was cruelly taken away from them”.
