Gemma Graham learns her fate on driving charges

A magistrate has slammed a south coast woman after she drove her red Hyundai hatchback at her on-again off-again girlfriend during a fight on Valentine’s Day.

A young Nowra mother has escaped jail time after hitting her on-again, off-again girlfriend in the driveway of her home, causing her to be “flung backwards”.

Gemma Graham fronted Nowra Local Court on Monday after pleading guilty to driving dangerously and driving an uninsured and unregistered car after the altercation on Valentine’s Day this year.

The 32-year-old was collecting her children from the victim’s house on February 14 before things began to escalate and neighbours had to call Triple 0 for help.

At 1pm, Graham entered the driveway of a unit block on Numba Way in Nowra, parking her red Hyundai hatchback a short distance from her now ex-partner.

Nowra mum Gemma Graham has been sentenced for a string of driving offences.

Yelling at each other, the victim approached the passenger side of the car while verbal insults continued to fly between the pair and in front of the children.

According to court documents, the victim then threatened to assault Graham and threw a can of bourbon at the driver’s side of the vehicle.

Graham drove out of the driveway, accelerating to get up the hill, but hit the victim who was “flung backwards”, police facts state.

Not stopping after impact, Graham drove off as concerned neighbours called emergency services. The victim was taken to Shoalhaven Hospital but no serious injuries were reported.

Police caught up with Graham later that evening, charging her with driving recklessly, and driving uninsured and unregistered, with the car’s registration having expired almost a year earlier in March 2020.

Graham’s lawyer admitted her action’s were “serious”, adding “there could have been serious injury”.

Magistrate Lisa Viney interjected the lawyer’s submissions, saying “it could have been death”.

Although her driving record was not without blemish, Graham’s lawyer argued it was important for her to have her licence in an effort to rehabilitate herself from drug use, and transport her children to school.

Magistrate Viney said she could see Graham was “deeply remorseful and sorry”, and decided not to record a conviction for the reckless driving charge, instead placing her on an 18-month conditional release order.

Graham was fined $800 for driving uninsured and unlicenced.