Cairns taxi driver Amar Deep Singh Chaggar, 36, sentenced after grooming teens and sexual assault

A Cairns taxi driver groomed teenage girls by plying them with nangs, alcohol and money before sexually assaulting two of them. Here’s what happened in court.

A taxi driver groomed teenage girls through Snapchat then supplied them with nangs, alcohol, money and free lifts in his car to gain their trust before sexually assaulting two of them, a court has heard.

Amar Deep Singh Chaggar, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of grooming a child under 16 years, seven counts of indecent treatment of children under 16, two counts of sexual assault, one count of deprivation liberty and one count of attempted indecent treatment of a child under 16 in Cairns District Court on Thursday.

Crown prosecutor Jodie Crane said Chaggar started talking to his first victim on Snapchat in August 2021.

“He replied to her Snapchat story, that seemed to be a story that could be seen publicly. He was told by her that she was only 14 but that did not deter him,” she said.

“He engaged in predatory behaviour against girls he clearly knew were children, they were vulnerable and easy targets, he supplied them with free money and free lifts.”

A Cairns taxi driver groomed teenage girls through Snapchat, the Cairns District Court has heard.

Ms Crane said he would offer the girls aged 14 to 16 nangs, causing them to be intoxicated. The court heard on one occasion one of the girls had been drinking and consumed the nangs.

“He tried to bribe her to engage sexual acts with him for $200,” she said.

“Her response to him was ‘I don’t know.’ There’s no consent there. He climbed on top of her and tried to kiss her, she tried turning away.

“He made her masturbate his penis, when he finished he gave her $200.

“He’s used that tool of giving them money to entice them to continue to engage with him.”

Ms Crane said on separate occasions, Chaggar touched one of the girls on her genitalia and others on their breasts.

“That offending is serious because the victims were in a vulnerable situation, in his car, they were affected by intoxicating substance and it was something he supplied to them,” Ms Crane said.

“There was nothing they could do while they were in the car.”

Ms Crane said one time Chaggar locked one of the girls in his car for three minutes, asking her for a handjob.

She said no and asked to be taken to Night Owl, which he did, the court heard.

Chaggar gave the girl money to silence her, but the mother noticed $500 in her account and a police report was made.

One of the mothers in the courtroom on Thursday read a victim impact statement.

Amar Deep Singh Chaggar gave the girls cash and alcohol. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Without going into the actual details, she has developed a low sense of self-assurance, she needs regular external valuation,” she said.

“He introduced her to the practice of sugaring, it will take considerable effort and undoing that her worth to others is purely transactional.”

Defence barrister Kelly Goodwin said Chaggar initially didn’t know what nangs were but the girls asked him to source the canisters for them.

“It was not initially him, he did not initiate that for the purpose of intoxicating the complainants,” he said.

“But he did go through with that and I’m not detracting that whatsoever.”

Mr Goodwin said Chaggar was distraught and cried about his actions when he read the victim impact statement.

“The demonstration of remorse and the way he has conducted this matter shows he has insight into his offending conduct which greatly reduces the risk of reoffending upon his release,” he said.

Chaggar was distraught and crying about his actions.

Mr Goodwin read what his client said, “It is something I will regret for the rest of my life.”

Chaggar is still married to his wife who has now been diagnosed with depression, and speaks to her constantly.

“Upon being released he wishes to engage with IVF specialists so he has an opportunity to start having children,” he said.

“The window of opportunity is closing due to his and his wife's age.”

Acting Judge Katarina Prskalo said she accepted he was remorseful.

“Needless to say the offending has had a significant and negative impact on complainants and families,” she said.

Taking into account the early plea of guilty, his remorse, Acting Judge Prskalo gave Chaggar a head sentence of two and a half years, suspended after serving eight months.

She declared 107 days in pre-sentence custody as time served.

Originally published as Cairns taxi driver Amar Deep Singh Chaggar, 36, sentenced after grooming teens and sexual assault