Driver who hit Glenn Wheeler escapes jail, given seven-month suspended sentence
The 60-year-old woman who smashed into Channel Seven personality Glenn Wheeler while 'high on cannabis' leaving him with a serious brain injury has escaped jail, given a seven-month suspended jail sentence.
Deborah Anne Levy has been given a two-year good behaviour bond and has had her licence suspended for three years.
Levy entered a last-minute guilty plea in Sutherland Local Court in October 2015 for driving under the influence and negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm.
The much loved broadcaster was put into an induced coma and suffered serious head injuries after he was hit on his scooter at Woolaware in January 2015.
He was left with brain damage and a severed artery in one leg.
Mr Wheeler thanked colleagues for their support in a special video filmed from the brain injury unit at Liverpool Hospital and screened at a Channel Seven media fundraiser at The Star casino last year.
"Thank you everybody collectively for the fabulous support that I have had... that this little black duck has had," he said.
"It hasn't been easy, I've had my tough times, but yes I've nearly been to death and back, but I tell you what it [the support] has been fantastic... to all the people involved, you are amazing.
“One thing's for sure, when it happens once it can happen again and it could happen to you... and if it does I hope that I can chip in and support you,” he said.
In April last year, Mr Wheeler’s son Dane said his father was suffering from post trauma amnesia.
He told 2GB his father recognised his family and friends but his memory wasn’t quite working yet.
"These sort of injuries take years and we don't know to what sort of extent because he's obviously suffered a severe injury and we don't know how long it is going to take or what its going to take to get him back on his feet,” he said on the show.