Uber Driver Shahab Akbar has walked free from court today after racially and violently assaulting a passenger.
Akbar became enraged and dragged 27-year-old Taleka White out of his car in Addiascome, South London, before hitting her twice accross the face. Her head smashed into the ground after the second blow sent her flying.
He had been an Uber driver for just under two years when the assault happened last November. Today he was given a 16 week suspended prison sentence and a community order at a hearing today, after being found guilty of one count of racially aggravated common assault. He has since had his private hire licence taken after the incident and doesn’t drive for Uber any more.
Ms White, a non-emergency paramedic and mother to a four-year-old, was left with a lump on her head, a bruised face and bloody hands after the assault. She told the courts; “This has been a nightmare part of my life and has left me broken in a way and I never thought that was possible.”
Prosecutor Angela Mahadeo told the courts that two women had got in an Uber after a night out in Croydon town centre on Saturday 29th November. She said that Akbar grew angry when he was confused about where to drop off White’s friend, and he then started to insult her and call her a black c*** during the rest of her journey. When they eventually arrived at her house, he physically pulled her out of the car.
“He grabbed Ms White by the arm and started to pull her out of the vehicle,” Ms Mahadeo said. “Whilst he was doing that he spilled her can of coke. She said ‘what the f*** have you done that for’? He then punched Ms White in the face. He punched her in the face again which pushed her down onto the floor. “She recalls seeing the minicab speeding away. Her mother opened the door and saw her outside bleeding.”
Akbar was sentenced to a 16 week prison sentence suspended for two years, a 200 hour community order, and was told to pay £500 in compensation to the victim.