A woman who assaulted an elderly Parkinson’s sufferer, robbed him of his mobility scooter and left him to die in sub-zero temperatures has pleaded guilty to his manslaughter.
Kimberley Ann Hawkins, 41, of no fixed address, admitted the charge at Bristol Crown Court following the death of Neil Shadwick in Stroud, Gloucestershire, in January last year.
Mr Shadwick, 63, was found unresponsive in the car park of a Tesco Superstore on Stratford Road on January 22, without his mobility scooter, which he used as his mode of transport.
A member of the public discovered Mr Shadwick shortly before 6am. Emergency services were called and he was rushed to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucester, where he died later the same day.
Appearing via video-link from prison, Hawkins confirmed her name and replied ‘guilty’ when the charge was read out to her.
Judge Peter Blair adjourned the case for sentencing on a date to be fixed.
He told Hawkins, who is of no fixed address: ‘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.’
Speaking after his death, Mr Shadwick’s children and siblings said in a statement: ‘We’re grieving for the death of our father and brother and would ask that our privacy is respected at this difficult time.’
CCTV footage previously released by police showed Mr Shadwick driving up to a cashpoint in the early hours of the morning with a woman riding on the back of his scooter.
He appeared to withdraw cash while the woman, who appeared agitated, waited nearby.
The pair then climbed back onto the scooter and drove away.
Shadwick was found less than a mile away from the cashpoint on the Sunday morning, while the scooter was found abandoned by a member of the public on Bisley Old Road over a mile away.
Police said Hawkins had stolen and rode away on the mobility scooter, leaving Mr Shadwick to die in sub-zero temperatures.
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.
Detective Inspector Adam Stacey, from the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: ‘Hawkins’ sickening actions had tragically fatal consequences for a man whom she knew full well to be extremely vulnerable.
‘I welcome her guilty plea, which has meant that Mr Shadwick’s family at least have not had to endure a lengthy trial in court.
‘Our thoughts remain with his family at this very difficult time.’