All Blacks: Sevu Reece avoids conviction after drunken car crash in ...

All Blacks and Crusaders speedster Sevu Reece has been discharged without conviction after admitting to causing wilful damage by crashing a car into a garage while intoxicated.

The 27-year-old received a discharge without conviction after appearing for sentencing before judge Katie Elkin on Tuesday in the Christchurch District Court.

Reece was ordered to pay NZ$1600 in reparations and NZ$500 for emotional harm.

He apologised for his behaviour and it was revealed that he has been receiving treatment for alcohol issues and has not had a drink since he was arrested for the incident which happened in November last year.

Second time he Reece avoids conviction

Reece, who made his All Blacks debut in 2019 and represented them in 32 Tests, also avoided conviction in 2018 when he received a discharge after pleading guilty to a charge of common assault on his then-partner.

A police summary of the latest incident revealed that Reece was asked to leave a property in Christchurch after he was “disrespectful to other house guests”.

He subsequently got into a car in the driveway at 1:20am, turned on the ignition and “accelerated up the driveway”.

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“The defendant crashed the vehicle into the victim’s garage, causing substantial damage to the garage and the vehicle,” police said.

‘Left the address on foot’

“He exited the vehicle and left the address on foot.”

There was substantial damage done to the garage and the car following the incident. According to 1News, Reece pleaded not guilty to two charges of taking a car dishonestly and without claim but not guilty of theft, and intentionally damaging a garage door.

Those charges were then dropped and replaced with the wilful damage charge.

Reece’s lawyer, Elizabeth Bulger, described his indiscretion as “low level” and said he should be discharged without conviction as it could affect his career, including travel overseas.

Reece is still facing an internal disciplinary process from New Zealand Rugby.

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