A VALLEYS biker was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for causing the death of his girlfriend, who was thrown from the motorbike he was riding.

Stephen Gilgrass, 52, of Bryn-y-Gwynt, Ebbw Vale, was found guilty of three charges in relation to the death of 40-year-old Michelle Warren, from Cwmtillery.

Judge Rhys Rowlands sentenced Gilgrass at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday, saying Ms Warren’s death was an “accident waiting to happen,”

adding “sadly, nothing I can say or sentence can reflect the loss of such a loved woman”.

Ms Warren, a pillion passenger, died on June 3 last year, when Gilgrass’ Suzuki motorbike hit a Ford Fiesta on King Street, Brynmawr.

She was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering multiple injuries.

Gilgrass was found guilty of causing death by careless driving, causing death while unlicensed and causing death by driving while uninsured, following a four-day trial last month.

Judge Rowlands said Gilgrass was not licensed and did not have valid insurance for a powerful motorbike, when he tried to overtake where such a manoeuvre was not possible.

Gilgrass accelerated into a Ford Fiesta, with Judge Rowlands adding: “You were both sent flying across the road. You were lucky in that you landed on grass.

"Sadly, your passenger was not and she came into contact with a signpost.”

Judge Rowlands said custody was the only option, saying the case was not far short of warranting a moreserious charge of death by dangerous driving.

He added: “The manoeuvre was fraught with danger.

It happened while you were driving home following a heated exchange after a car reversed into you. It may well have added to your frustration: you wanted to get away, making it an accident waiting to happen.”

Judge Rowlands passed concurrent terms of 32 months for death by careless driving and six months each for driving without a licence and without valid insurance.

‘He couldn’t even admit blame’

MS WARREN’S mother Doreen Love and sister Joanne Love, 39, broke down in tears after the sentencing.

Joanne Love said: “It’s a waste of life – she won’t see her children walk down the aisle or her grandchildren, but he will be out one in a couple of years and still has his.”

She said with children Ben, 23, Dionne, 20 and Richard, 17, grow up, Ms Warren was starting to enjoy life away from the family when the accident happened.

She was going out with friends, got into bikes and car boot sales and started seeing Gilgrass – a family friend for 30 years – last February.

Ben’s girlfriend Rhiannon Wallace, 30, said: “Michelle was so happy with her life when she died and it was just snatched away by a stupid act. What makes it worse is she’d known him (Gilgrass) so long and he couldn’t even admit it was his fault.

“All we wanted was for him to show remorse. But, he didn’t and it has taken over a year, but at least we have closure now and can start grieving.”