Lawyer says hit-run drug driver client who left cyclist for dead deserves jail time

The lawyer of an ice addict driver who left a Melbourne cyclist for dead in a hit-run has conceded his client deserved to serve jail time.

The Ballarat Supreme Court heard on Wednesday father of two Christian Ashby suffered catastrophic injuries when he was struck by Rebekah Stewart’s vehicle on Good Friday last year.

The 24-year-old had been taking ice when she drove front-on into Mr Ashby on a Ballarat road.

She was on her way to buy more drugs when she struck the man and then drove off, the court heard.

Both Mr Ashby’s lungs were punctured, and he suffered nine fractured ribs and three broken vertebrae, a damaged kidney had to be removed and bones in his hand were crushed, which left it deformed.

The cyclist was a fit athlete, who was training for a triathlon that morning.

Now his days are filled with chronic aches and pains and he will never be able to run again, or return to work full time as a podiatrist.

Stewart was caught and arrested several days after fleeing the collision.

She initially told friends she thought she had hit a kangaroo, but later pleaded guilty to the hit and run and driving while disqualified.

The court heard Stewart has had drug rehabilitation as part of her bail conditions.

Her defence barrister conceded a jail term would be appropriate to deter people from driving on drugs and from leaving the scene of an accident.

She will be sentenced on Monday.