A FORMER international ballroom champion who ploughed his car into a Wollongong dance studio, injuring four people, has vowed never to drive again.
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Ray Reeve, 84, was spared a full-time jail sentence at Kiama Local Court Wednesday after a magistrate noted his “exemplary” character and remorse for the September 2, 2014, accident.
The court heard Reeve’s wife of 54 years, fellow ballroom champion Margaret, was in the passenger seat beside him when their car burst through the window of their family’s Glebe Street studio, Dancespace 383.
The car skidded across the dance floor as a children’s class was dispersing, most seriously injuring a woman who was scrambling to move her daughter to safety.
The car stopped after it became lodged in a brick wall, coming to rest with its front half hanging out the building.
Reeve pleaded guilty to two counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct, while in charge of a motor vehicle.
His solicitor, Zaid Khan, told the court his client had “aged 10 years” in the 12 months since the accident, and would never renew his license.
“I asked him how he felt about the people [injured in the accident],” Mr Khan said. “He said, ‘I think about them every day’.
“He’s concerned not … for his business at all … but for the people who were injured, and this is a testament to his character.
“He wants nothing more than to offer his apologies to those [injured] and to express his contrition.”
The court heard the two families hurt in the accident had since returned to the dance studio.
Malika Reese and her son Jesse suffered bruising, grazing and abrasions.
Another mother, Stacey Hansknecht, suffered three broken ribs, a broken let, second degree burns to her back, concussion, bruising and scarring.
Her daughter Indigo was later transferred to Westmead Children’s Hospital with a head injury.
Reeve’s solicitor argued for his client to be placed on a good behavior bond. But prosecutor Sergeant Ben Hart told the court a harsher sentence was warranted.
“A message need to to be sent to the community, especially older drivers, that although they may be medically fit to drive … they need to think carefully about whether they should be on the road.”
Police documents tendered to the court showed Reeve’s car initially mounted a raised concrete path and collided with the studio’s glass window, cracking it. It then reversed about 10 metres, stopped, and accelerated forward again.
Witnesses reported smoke coming from the car’s tyres and the heard it revving before it smashed through the glass window, leaving a nine-metre skid mark in its wake, and ran through the studio.
The court heard Mrs Reeve had initially blamed the crash on a “stuck” accelerator. However mechanical causes were later ruled out by NSW Police Vehicles Examiners Unit and automotive experts consulted by police investigators.
Magistrate Geraldine Beattie took into account Reeve’s limited driving record after 52 years on the road, and glowing references attesting to his good character and contribution to the community after 53 years at the helm of the Reeve family’s dance school.
He was handed a 15 month suspended jail sentence and disqualified from driving for three years.
Outside court, the Reeves declined to comment on the outcome. “We’re very happy that it’s all over,” was all Mrs Reeve would say.