A ‘kind and respected’ Army veteran died in a motorbike crash when he lost control of his Harley-Davidson when the side stand dropped and scraped along the tarmac, an inquest has heard.
Despite being seen by witnesses driving ‘safely and in a controlled manner’ and having over a decade’s experience riding motorbikes, Stephen Mullis, 37, crashed into a tree and died on March 30 last year.
Fourteen-metre scrapes from the fallen side stand were found at the scene and the motorbike model, a Harley-Davidson Sportster S, had been recalled by the manufacturers. It is not known how or why the stand came down in the accident.
Stephen Mullis was described as a ‘well-respected’ and cherished family man who spent his life not only protecting his loved ones, but serving his country.
Mr Mullis, from Gosport in Hampshire, served in the Army for 14 years, during which time he rose to the rank of Sergeant and completed two tours of Afghanistan, a tour of Iraq, and one of Northern Ireland.
The 37-year-old, who was part of The Princess of Wales‘s Royal Regiment, was riding his new Harley-Davidson Sportster S when its side stand dropped from the correct position.
It caused Mr Mullis to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a tree last year.
His wife Chloe said: ‘Steve was a deeply loved husband, father, brother and son.
Stephen Mullis (pictured) was a ‘kind and respected’ Army veteran who died in a motorbike crash last year
The inquest heard how Mr Mullis had a ‘passion for motorcycles’ and had his licence for over a decade
‘He was a big character who lit up every room he walked into. He was kind, caring and fiercely protective of those he loved.
‘He was well known for his great sense of humour and his loyalty to friends and family. He was an honourable and well-respected man, often described as the glue that held friendship groups together.
‘He had a passion for motorcycles. In his spare time, he was always out in the garage polishing them – he was a sports bike fan through and through. He was very much into fitness as well and loved to push himself.
‘The loss of Steve has left an immeasurable gap in our lives. He will always be remembered for the warmth he brought into a room and the way he made people feel valued, safe and supported. He was, and always will be, profoundly loved.’
In a fitting tribute, the Royal British Legion Riders Branch attended the veteran’s funeral and rode motorcycles in solidarity to honour Steve’s passion.
Lois Mullis, Mr Mullis’ mum, said: ‘Over 200 people came to his funeral. His loss was felt across the country.’
Karen Wooden, Mr Mullis’ mother-in-law, added: ‘He was genuinely the loveliest person and they (Steve and Chloe Mullis) found each other.
‘They had the most gorgeous wedding and a perfect honeymoon and had just found their perfect home.’
An inquest at Portsmouth Coroners Court heard that Mr Mullis’ new Harley-Davidson hit a tree on March 30, 2025, after its side stand dropped from its correct position.
As a result, the stand started scraping on the tarmac, creating 14-metre scuffs along the road, causing Mr Mullis to lose control of the vehicle before leaving the road and mounting the kerb.
Mrs Mullis told the court about the morning before her husband passed away.
She said: ‘He was perfectly fine. We had just moved house four months before and we had just got married so we were newlyweds.
‘He came up and made me breakfast in bed and he was happy as Larry. We planned to see our families to give our mothers Mother’s Day presents.’
In a witness statement, motorist Karol Lisicki recalled seeing Steve driving in a ‘safe and controlled manner’, and he vividly remembers acknowledging that the way he was riding was how motorcyclists ‘should’ behave on the road.
He said: ‘I am a father as well and that day was already hard as my daughter was with her mother. Seeing the motorcycle was a highlight of my day, seeing something so beautiful.
‘When you have a love for motorcycles like that, it fills you with joy but what I saw afterwards was something I never want to go through again.
‘I ran over to him as quickly as I could. I held his hand throughout it all because I knew I couldn’t do much. We did everything we could.’
Several people rushed to Mr Mullis’ aid with emergency services also responding to the crash in Gosport just after 2pm. Mr Mullis sadly died at the scene.
Area coroner for Hampshire, Jason Pegg, noted that a toxicology report revealed there was no alcohol or drugs in Steve’s system.
Mr Pegg said: ‘It is quite evident to me that he was a very loved man – a loved son, a loved husband, a loved brother and a loved father.
‘He was someone who guided his daughter in a way that allowed her to develop as a young lady.
‘He had a passion for motorcycles and was very experienced in them – he held his licence since 2011.’
Mr Pegg explained how one of the vehicle’s side stands had somehow been put down and was ultimately responsible for the crash.
He continued: ‘The side stand did make contact with the road surface, which is quite clear from the forensic evidence at the scene.
‘The side stand had come down – it should not have been down and how it became so, is unclear – there is no evidence as to why that happened.
‘When that scraping occurred, the motorcycle was still in an upright position and Steve had been in control of the bike. It seems that the movement to the left was an attempt to try and return it to its correct position.’
Mrs Mullis said her husband’s bike, a Harley-Davidson Sportster S, has recently been subjected to a manufacturer recall.
Harley-Davidson were contacted by the Daily Mail for comment.
