Zoe Graham, the 38-year-old wife of singer Rag 'n' Bone Man, has been spared jail after a horrific car crash that left a mother and her three children injured. The incident occurred in August 2023 while Graham was driving her Range Rover during the school run in East Sussex. She illegally overtook a vehicle that was turning right into an animal rescue centre, colliding with a car driven by Samantha Keen.
Details of the Crash
Graham initially attempted to overtake a tractor on a stretch of road labelled 'dangerous' while rushing to pick up her sons. Unaware that three cars were ahead of the tractor, she crossed double white lines and crashed into Keen's car. At the time of the collision, Graham was travelling at approximately 55 mph.
Samantha Keen was taking her two daughters and son to an animal rescue centre when the crash occurred. She lost consciousness immediately and later told the court she lost feeling in her legs and suffered severe pain. Two off-duty paramedics at the scene provided assistance, and Keen begged them not to let her die. She also expressed concern that her children would become orphans, as their father had died a year earlier.
Injuries and Impact
Keen suffered a broken ankle, cuts to her face and head, damage to her right hip, and other cuts and bruises. Her children also sustained cuts and bruises to their faces, heads, arms, and legs. The entire family has been left mentally traumatised, with the children now attending regular counselling sessions for PTSD. Keen was left in an ankle boot and using crutches for months, and she experienced a concussion and post-concussion migraines that prevented her from properly caring for her children.
In her victim impact statement, Keen said: 'They [the children] thought they were going to lose their only living parent. We had to cancel our holiday, losing our deposits. I was too injured to look after the children. I've been left with physical and mental injuries and have had to give up kickboxing and other sports. My car, which is the only expensive thing I own, which I bought with the little I got after my husband died, is wrecked.'
Court Proceedings
Graham broke down in tears in court, explaining she thought it was safe to overtake. She said: 'I am very sorry. Because what we, my children and I went through, nine years of domestic violence and my ex would make me late. I was a little bit late to pick my boys up, and they suffer from anxiety. I indicated, and I hit her. I've never hurt anyone in my life and never would. I feel so sorry because my children went through anxiety as well.'
Graham was initially charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving under her maiden name, Beardsall, but later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing serious injury by careless driving.
Sentence
Judge Rennie sentenced Graham to a 12-week suspended prison sentence, telling her: 'I accept this is wholly out of character. All this was avoidable if you had driven in the way you were supposed to. I'm going to put you out of your misery; you're not going to prison today. This is a horrendous case where two families have been left traumatised by events... If you breach the suspended sentence, you could be sending yourself to prison.'
