Rag

The wife of Rag 'N' Bone Man, Zoe Graham, has been spared jail after a horrific car crash in which a mother and her three children were injured. The 38-year-old was driving her Range Rover during the school run when she illegally overtook the vehicle as it turned right into an animal rescue centre. According to reports, Zoe initially attempted to overtake a tractor on a stretch of road labelled "dangerous" while rushing to pick up her sons in East Sussex.

But as she tried to overtake, she was unaware that three cars were ahead of the tractor. After crossing the double white lines in the centre of the road, Zoe crashed into a car that was turning. The victim, Samantha Keen, was taking her two daughters and son to an animal rescue centre when the incident occurred.

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It's said the Zoe was travelling at around 55mph at the time of the crash. It was reported that Samantha lost consciousness immediately following the collision in August 2023. She later explained losing the feeling in her legs and battling with severe pain.

She told the court that she screamed for help and begged two off-duty paramedics at the scene not to let her die. The victim added that her children would have been made orphans following the death of their father a year earlier.

The court was told: "Her eldest child asked if mummy was going where daddy was." Rachel Beckett, prosecuting, said Samantha was suffering severe pain in her right hip all the way down her leg. Miss Beckett then claimed Zoe had pulled out to get past, but did not realise the situation ahead.

Samantha suffered a broken ankle in the collision as well as cuts to her face and head, and damage to her right hip. She was also left with other cuts and bruises. The children also suffered cuts and bruises to their faces, heads, arms and legs.

The court was also told the whole family has been left mentally "traumatised" following the events, with the children now attending regular counselling sessions for PTSD. The incident is said to have left Samantha in an ankle boot and using crutches for months.

She is also said to have had a concussion and post-concussion migraines that left her unable to properly care for her children. 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 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." In court, Zoe broke down in tears as she explained how she thought it was safe to overtake.

She told the 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."

The star 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." Graham had been arrested by police officers following the crash.

She was interviewed about the incident and was 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, 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."