Zoe Graham, the wife of singer Rag'n'Bone Man, has avoided a prison sentence after crashing her Range Rover into a car carrying a mother and her three children during a school run in East Sussex. She was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence at Lewes Crown Court.
Crash Details and Injuries
The incident occurred in August 2023 on a stretch of road described as "dangerous." Graham, 38, was rushing to pick up her sons when she attempted to overtake a tractor. Unaware that three cars were in front of the tractor, she crossed double white lines and collided with a vehicle turning into a driveway.
The driver of the other car, Samantha Keen, was taking her two daughters and son to an animal rescue centre. Graham was traveling at around 55 mph at the time of the collision.
Keen lost consciousness immediately after the crash. She later reported losing feeling in her legs and experiencing severe pain. She screamed for help, begging two off-duty paramedics at the scene not to let her die, fearing her children would become orphans after their father's death a year earlier.
Impact on Victims
Keen suffered a broken ankle, cuts to her face and head, a damaged right hip, and other bruises and cuts. Her children also sustained cuts and bruises to their faces, heads, arms, and legs. The family has been left mentally traumatised, with the children requiring counselling for PTSD.
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 kick-boxing and other sports. My car, which is the only expensive thing I owned which I bought with the little I got after my husband died, is wrecked."
Graham's Apology and Background
In court, Graham broke down, expressing sorrow for her actions. She explained 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 had been arrested and initially charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving under her maiden name Beardsall. She later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing serious injury by careless driving.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Sentencing, Judge Rennie told Graham: "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."
Graham met Rag'n'Bone Man, whose real name is Rory Charles Graham, in 2021 while working at a café near his home in Heathfield. The couple married in November 2024.
