Judge SLAMS Kate Ritchie’s estranged husband and says he’s lucky he’s not in jail over his ‘appalling’ driving record – as former Home And Away star supports him in legal battle
- Kate Ritchie’s husband is ‘lucky’ he hasn’t been locked up over driving record
- Stuart Webb was charged with drink driving on a suspended licence in March
- He faced Waverley Local Court in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Thursday
A judge has told Kate Ritchie’s estranged husband he’s ‘lucky he hasn’t been sent to jail’ for his ‘appalling’ driving record.
Stuart Webb was charged with drink driving on a suspended licence after he was stopped by police and blew 0.083 on March 26.
Webb was not joined by his TV actor wife as he faced Waverley Local Court, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, on Thursday – but she did write a letter of support for the former NRL star, news.com.au reported.
An AVO is currently in place to prohibit Webb from approaching Ritchie within 12 hours of consuming alcohol.
A judge has told Kate Ritchie’s estranged husband he’s ‘lucky he hasn’t been sent to jail’ for his ‘appalling’ driving record
Court documents concerning the March driving incident said Webb had ‘glazed and bloodshot’ eyes when he was pulled over by highway patrolmen in Randwick in Sydney’s east.
He had just run a red light and was also driving on a suspended licence.
Webb claimed to be ‘unaware’ his licence was suspended, alleging he had previously visited a Service NSW office to resolve the matter.
He was disqualified from driving for several months, but the ban has come to an end.
The court was told there were no records of Webb successfully reapplying for his licence with Service NSW and it remains cancelled.
The judge referred to Webb’s drink driving record in court.
Stuart Webb (pictured in December 2019) was charged with drink driving on a suspended licence after he was stopped by police and blew 0.083 on March 26
‘His licence history is that he has PCAs (prescribed concentration of alcohol) in 2004, 2012, 2018, 2019 and he was unlicensed in 2017,’ the judge said.
‘He’s lucky he hasn’t been sent to jail – it’s an appalling record.’
The judge said ignorance is not an excuse for driving without a licence.
The court was told Ritchie’s letter of support referred to Webb’s duties in bringing up their daughter.
‘Mr Webb, your record is absolutely atrocious. You have five drink driving offences on your record, it’s absolutely disgraceful,’ the judge said.
Webb was put on a conditional release order for two years. He will be allowed to drive.
Webb is best known for playing 88 rugby league games for Sydney Roosters, St George Illawarra and South Sydney.
Webb was not joined by his TV actor wife as he faced Waverley Local Court, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, on Thursday – but she did write a letter of support for the former NRL star