The wife of singer Rag’n’Bone Man crashed into a family trying to come to terms with the loss of the children’s father who after they enjoyed a day out at an animal rescue centre
Heartbreaking details have emerged surrounding the family who were ploughed into by the wife of singer Rag’n’Bone Man’s in a horror car smash after Zoe Graham was spared jail.
The full extent of the family’s ordeal have come to light, from the serious injuries they suffered, the desperate plea to paramedics at the scene and the devastating loss that had already shattered their lives just months earlier.
Ms Graham wept in court as she recalled how she crashed into a car containing Samantha Keen and her two daughters and son. Graham hit the family car at 50mph when she was running late for school.
Tragically, Samantha and her children were still coming to terms with the death of her husband and the children’s father in a road smash the year before. The family were having a day out at an animal rescue centre when the partner of the music star careered into them at high speed.
Mrs Graham, 38, attempted to overtake a tractor on a stretch of East Sussex road labelled “dangerous” as she rushed to pick up her sons. She had been overtaking a line of cars in her Range Rover when she lost control and slammed into the family, with the Ford ending up in a grassy verge.
Ms Keen – who lost consciousness immediately following the collision in August 2023 – told the court the vehicle was left to her by her husband following his death. She begged off-duty paramedics who had rushed to the scene to save her life, and not leave her terrified children without both parents.
Heartbreakingly, the court was told: “Her eldest child asked if mummy was going where daddy was.”
After being cut from the wreckage, she suffered a broken ankle and scarring to her face. She also needed treatment of injuries to her hip, leg, and ribs. Ever since the crash, the mum has had to take anti-migraine medication.
The mum had to wear an ankle boot and use crutches for months. Her kids had a lucky escape, suffering only cuts and bruises to their faces, heads, arms and legs.
Burt all three of her children have post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the crash and they now struggle to get into a car.
Her victim impact statement read: “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.”
Mrs Graham met Rag N Bone Man, real name Rory Graham, six years ago while working at a cafe. The pair fell quickly in love and married the next year.
She escaped being sent to jail and was instead given a 12-week suspended prison sentence.
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.”
Mrs Graham broke down as she told of her sorrow at her actions. She explained she thought it was safe to overtake. She said in court: “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.”
She continued: “I would never want to put anyone through this. I understand what children go through, as I am also a mother. I’m just so sorry this happened because I would never mean to cause anyone any harm.”
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