Uber driver sexually assaulted female passenger as she was being sick

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

An Uber driver sexually assaulted a female passenger while she was being sick out of the door of his minicab.

Temur Shah, 45, collected the 27-year-old woman in the West End of London in the early hours of the morning and insisted she sat in the front seat.

When she told him she was going to be sick, he stopped the car and groped her while leaning over her to open the passenger door. He then continued to sexually assault her as she leaned out to vomit.

The victim told Shah not to touch her again but stayed in the minicab for the rest of the journey home because she had no battery left on her phone and no money.

She reported the assault to police after he dropped her off near her home in north London.

Shah was arrested two weeks later, on 2 February 2018, after officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Taxi and Private Hire Policing Team identified him using CCTV footage and GPS data from Uber.

He was charged with sexual assault earlier this year and on Monday was convicted of the offence following a trial at Isleworth Crown Court.

“Shah despicably took advantage of his position as a trusted licensed driver and sexually assaulted a passenger in a vulnerable state,” said detective superintendent Andy Cox.

“His conviction was down to a meticulous investigation which left the jury in no doubt as to his guilt.

“If you ever experience unwanted sexual behaviour, report it to the police. You will always be taken seriously and the incident will be fully investigated.”

Transport for London (TfL) has revoked Shah’s private hire licence to prevent him from working as a minicab driver.

Mandy McGregor, TfL’s head of transport policing and community safety, described the attack as “predatory and disgusting”.

“I would like to thank the young woman for coming forward and reporting this so TfL and the police could investigate and take action against the driver,” she added. “We expect the highest standards from TfL licensed taxi and private hire drivers.”

Shah, of Park Crescent, Harrow, was released on bail until he is sentenced on 12 November.

Uber confirmed Shah had lost his access to the app permanently. “We are appalled by this case and have a zero tolerance policy on such behaviour in the Uber community,” said an Uber spokeswoman.

“Any driver found to have behaved in this manner faces permanent removal from the app. We encourage every rider to speak up and report any wrongdoing to the police and TfL, both of whom we work closely with.”

Uber’s licence to operate in London was temporarily suspended in September 2017 over concerns the company was not a “fit and proper” private car hire firm.

Last month TfL told the company its licence would only be extended if it met new conditions to “ensure passenger safety”. The licence is due to expire on 24 November.