Stuart Webb: Kate Ritchie’s husband ‘lucky not to be jailed’
Former Home And Away star Kate Ritchie penned a letter to court to tell of her husband’s responsibilities as a father. It came as he copped a lashing from the magistrate over his ‘disgraceful’ driving record.
Central Sydney
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The full extent of Kate Ritchie’s husband’s appalling driving history has been laid bare in court today, where a magistrate told Stuart Webb he was lucky to have not been jailed over his “disgraceful” record.
Former NRL star Webb was appearing in the Waverley Local Court this morning after an incident surrounding another drink driving offence last year that also led him to being charged with driving while suspended.
He was arrested after blowing a reading of 0.08. Webb has had multiple convictions for getting behind the wheel after drinking, but his lawyer Christopher Cole claimed confusion surrounding numerous suspensions and disqualifications, and when they were supposed to end, led to him driving with a cancelled licence.
His estranged wife and former Home And Away actress Kate Ritchie had written a letter to the court today outlining his responsibilities as a father to their four-year-old daughter.
The Gold Logie winner's letter referred to him as a "stay at home dad", the court heard.
Magistrate Greg Grogin, however, lashed Webb over his repeat offending.
“There is no excuse and ignorance of the law is definitely not an excuse,” Magistrate Grogin said.
“His record is absolutely atrocious, he is lucky to not have received a jail sentence (before).
“His driving history is disgraceful.”Webb is currently subject to an AVO taken out by the NSW Police on behalf of Ms Ritchie after an incident at their Randwick home last October.
The high profile couple’s relationship has been under the spotlight ever since police responded to the report three months ago.
The former Roosters and Dragons player’s latest drink driving offence was his fifth since 1999, with court documents revealing he smelled of booze and had “glazed and bloodshot” eyes when pulled over in Randwick last March.
Police were initially alerted to his driving after he rolled past the lines at a red light in the eastern suburbs.
Dressed in a sharp suit, Webb briskly left court without commenting to waiting media.
Webb was placed on a two-year conditional release order by Magistrate Grogin after pleading guilty to driving while suspended today.
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