A Melbourne taxi driver has been sentenced to 10 months in prison after sexually assaulting a barely conscious passenger and stealing her engagement ring during a 45-minute ride.
Satinder Satinder, 29, pleaded guilty to non-consensual sexual touching and theft in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
The incident occurred in the early hours of June 27, when Satinder picked up the 30-year-old victim from Collins Street. The victim, clearly intoxicated, was assisted into the cab by Satinder.
According to The Age, court documents revealed that the assault was captured on the taxi’s CCTV system. Satinder repeatedly groped the victim both on top of and under her clothing while she occasionally regained consciousness and attempted to push his hands away.
The assault culminated in Satinder stealing the victim’s engagement ring, which he twisted off her finger before making lewd advances. He dropped the victim at her home and fled without taking payment for the fare.
Satinder was arrested two days later at Melbourne International Airport, just before attempting to board a flight to India.
Magistrate Kay Robertson condemned Satinder’s actions, calling them “repulsive” and stressing the breach of trust by a taxi driver, who is in a position to ensure the safety of vulnerable passengers. Robertson added that the case serves as a warning to taxi and ride-share drivers that such offences will not be tolerated.
Satinder was charged with 15 counts of sexual assault and one count of theft. His victim, who remains traumatised, has described herself as a fearful shadow of her former self since the incident.
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