All Blacks player Sevu Reece has been discharged without conviction after crashing a car into a garage in Christchurch.
Name suppression was dropped today when the 27-year-old appeared for sentencing at the Christchurch District Court. He was accompanied by his partner.
The wing had earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of wilful damage.
The judge said Reece would be discharged without conviction. He was ordered to pay $1600 in reparations and $500 for emotional harm.
The All Blacks wing was convicted and discharged after admitting one charge following an incident in November last year. (Source: 1News)
According to the police summary of facts, Reece was at a property in Christchurch when he was asked to leave for disrespecting other guests in November last year.
He got into a car parked in the driveway at 1.20 am, turned on the ignition, accelerated, and crashed into the garage.
Reece said the car was already running when he got into it.
Substantial damage was caused to the vehicle and the garage. Reece then left the address on foot.
Initially, he 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.
The charges were later dropped and replaced with the wilful damage charge.
His lawyer Elizabeth Bulger described the offending as “low level”.
Bulger said Reece should be discharged without conviction as it could affect his career, including travel overseas.
She said he would pay reparations immediately and has been getting help for his alcohol abuse. New Zealand Rugby still has Reece under an internal disciplinary process.
In 2018, Reece was given a discharge without conviction for assaulting his then-girlfriend, who suffered injuries to her upper face and bruising to her waist and left knee.
The Hamilton District Court heard that Reece didn’t remember the assault because of the level of intoxication.
