Cairns crime: Taxi driver Harmeet Singh pleads guilty to sexual assault

A Cairns woman was sexually assaulted by a taxi driver who persisted despite her pleas and chased her on foot when she managed to escape, Cairns District Court has heard.

THE victim of a sexual assault by a Cairns taxi driver said she lived in fear and wanted to end her life after the attack, Cairns District Court heard on Friday.

Harmeet Singh, 29, pleaded guilty before Judge Paul Smith and was remanded in custody ahead of a sentencing hearing on June 3.

Defence barrister James Sheridan implored the court not to send Mr Singh for prison, even on remand, as it would ruin Mr Singh’s marriage prospects and adversely affect him within the local Indian community.

But Judge Smith would not be swayed.

The court was shown a CCTV recording of the offence.

The woman, 34, appears to be friendly with Mr Singh, giving him a kiss and hug goodbye.

But Mr Singh wanted more, holding the woman so she could not get out of the cab, grasping her breast and begging her “please” as he tried to kiss her more.

“Just one more,” he said as his hand roved her left breast.

“Please let me go, no, stop,” the woman repeatedly said.

But Mr Singh did not, and she said “hold on, let me open the door, give me two secs and I’ll give you an answer,” she said, fleeing the cab.

Mr Singh exited the cab and chased the woman to her front door.

Crown Prosecutor Christian Peters said a vulnerable woman at the end of a night out in Cairns had the right to be taken home safely by a taxi driver. Harmeet Singh pleased guilty to sexual assault in Cairns District Court on Friday.

Crown Prosecutor Christian Peters said the woman was confined in the cab for a protracted time and he was very persistent towards a vulnerable woman following a night of drinking.

“He pursued her to the door and it is just by good fortune she closed the door,” Mr Peters said.

He read the woman’s victim impact statement to the court, where she described being unable to leave the house or even go out on the balcony, sleeping with the light on and her bedroom door locked, and being unable to go out after dark.

“I will never get in a taxi or Uber alone again, you are meant to trust these people to get you home safely, it has taken away my ability to trust men,” she said in the statement.

Mr Sheridan acknowledged Mr Singh’s advances were not welcome and he should not have persisted and she had a fundamental right to be taken home safely by a taxi driver.

He said Mr Singh had anxiety and depression, lost his taxi licence and was working as an Uber Eats delivery driver, and was worried his Visa could be revoked if he received a prison sentence.

Mr Singh offered $2,000 compensation and had no previous criminal history, Mr Sheridan said.

“It was a sheer, utter act of stupidity,” he said.

“He is deeply embarrassed and this is overlaid with cultural shame.”

Judge Smith said women in taxis or Ubers needed to be protected.

“I’m troubled by this case, she was very vulnerable,” he said.

Originally published as Cairns crime: Taxi driver Harmeet Singh pleads guilty to sexual assault