A woman recently released from prison after a disturbing hit-and-run incident involving a cyclist is facing charges once again, accused of a head-on collision with two motorists.
Rebekah Stewart, now 32, was previously involved in a 2016 crash where she crossed into the wrong lane, striking cyclist Christian Ashby during his morning ride. Following the collision, she left the scene immediately.
In the alarming incident that occurred on Good Friday near Lake Wendouree in western Victoria, Ashby, then 37 and a father of two, was thrown over the hood of Stewart’s car. The crash left the former triathlete with severe, life-altering injuries.
Ashby has since undergone ten major surgeries to address his injuries, enduring chronic pain and permanent disabilities as a result of the crash.
At the time of the 2016 incident, Stewart was already prohibited from driving and serving a suspended sentence. After hitting Ashby, she fled without offering assistance, later concealing her damaged vehicle under a tarpaulin.
In court, it was revealed that Stewart had a history of reckless driving, including a previous incident where she crashed into someone else’s property and then fled the scene.
She was sentenced to six years in jail in April 2017 with a non-parole period of four years after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury and failing to stop.
The callous offender later tried to appeal that sentence because Mr Ashby didn’t die.
Rebekah Stewart, 32, is accused of drug dealing and dangerous driving despite spending years behind bars
On Thursday, Stewart appeared in the Supreme Court of Victoria via videolink from jail where her vile behaviour after her release from jail in February 2021 was revealed.
The court heard Stewart returned to prison the following year after breaching her parole conditions when she was caught in a stolen car with stolen goods.
She was forced to serve out her full sentence, spending 10 more months behind bars before her release in October 2023.
But in October last year, Stewart was back in jail amid allegations she was now a hardcore meth dealer.
Police have charged Stewart with 52 offences, ranging from reckless conduct endangering serious injury to drug trafficking and gun offences.
Stewart is fighting for bail over the new allegations that could see her locked up for decades.
Prosecutors allege she was behind the wheel of a stolen Toyota Hilux on August 6 when she fled police, ran a red light, and slammed head-on into another car.
Christian Ashby was left with life changing injuries after he was run down by Stewart
Paramedics fought to save Mr Ashby’s life
The court heard her driving put multiple innocent lives at risk before she allegedly abandoned the wreck and vanished.
Two weeks later, a raid on her apartment allegedly uncovered a drug haul estimated to be more than 310g of methamphetamine.
Police also allege they found piles of deal bags, a vacuum sealer, more than $70,000 in cash and a loaded handgun stashed away.
Crown prosecutor Marcel White described the case against Stewart as ‘very strong’.
At her bail hearing on Thursday, Stewart’s devoted mum Jennifer offered the court a $20,000 surety, insisting she ‘believes in her daughter’.
‘I know she’s going to do it this time,’ she told the court.
If released, Stewart will be placed in a rehabilitation facility in Shepparton, in Victoria’s north, for 12 weeks before her likely return to Ballarat to live with her mum.
Mr White urged Justice Amanda Fox not to endanger the community by allowing Stewart back into society.
Rebekah Stewart hopes to be released from jail despite allegations she is a drug dealer and a danger on the road
He described her alleged head-on crash as ‘hauntingly similar’ to Mr Ashby’s hit and run, noting Stewart had previously damaged property and driven off before that incident.
Mr White warned Stewart had a ‘grave’ history of relapsing after jail and rehab stints, ignoring court orders, and endangering lives on the roads.
He warned if she relapsed again and got behind the wheel, the results could be ‘catastrophic’ for the public.
Justice Fox will hand down her decision on Friday.
