Satinder Singh: Qld Uber driver found guilty of four counts of sexual assault on young woman

A Queensland Uber driver faces being deported after being sentenced for the “remorseless and frightening” sexual attack of a vulnerable young passenger he wanted a threesome with.

Uber driver Satinder Singh has been sentenced for a 2022 sexual assault on a vulnerable 18-year-old passenger.

An Uber driver who sexually assaulted a vulnerable 18-year-old passenger denied the offending and attempted to paint the victim and her girlfriend as racist young women who had misbehaved in his car.

But a jury rejected Satinder Singh’s story, finding him guilty of the frightening attack on the young woman which persisted despite her rejecting his sexual advances and repeatedly telling him “no”.

The “remorseless” 34-year-old was sentenced for the December 2022 attack on Friday, weeks after a jury found him guilty of four counts of sexual assault.

District Court Judge Vicki Loury KC said after dropping off the victim’s girlfriend, Singh had invited the 18-year-old to sit in the front of his Uber for the rest of her journey so she could select the music.

“On the drive to her house you commenced asking her personal questions,” Judge Loury said.

“Those questions included asking her age, commenting on the size of her breasts and that of her girlfriend and asking if she was gay.

“When she said that she was, you asked if she would participate in a threesome, you asked for her phone number and if she was free during the week, you also lied to her about your own age.”

The court heard when they reached the final destination, Singh asked if he could hug the woman.

“Before she could answer you grabbed her left breast and squeezed it, you grabbed her right breast and squeezed it, as you did so, you kissed her on the cheek and neck,” Judge Loury said.

“You tried to lift her shirt up but she kept saying no.

“You continued to grope her breasts and kiss her cheek and neck.”

Uber driver Satinder Singh has been sentenced for a 2022 sexual assault on a vulnerable 18-year-old passenger.

Singh denied the offending, taking the case to trial where the young woman was forced to give evidence and recount the attack.

“You gave evidence denying committing the offences,” Judge Loury said.

“You attempted to paint the complainant and her girlfriend as racist young women who misbehaved in your Uber.

“The jury rightly rejected your evidence.”

Judge Loury said while Singh could not be given a harsher sentence because he exercised his right to a trial, it was clear he was “without remorse”.

Defence barrister Kylie Hillard said Singh, who was born in India and came to Australia in 2016 on a graduate visa, was at risk of being deported.

She said Singh was the financial provider for his family including his pregnant wife and his mother.

Singh was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment to be suspended for two years after he has served four months in custody.

The 17 days he has served in prison since his conviction was declared as time already served.

“The complainant was a young woman, she was alone and vulnerable in your car, you being a stranger to her,” Judge Loury said.

“She trusted you not to assault her as a customer.

“You took advantage of her vulnerability and sexually assaulted her.”

Judge Loury accepted references tendered to the court which described Singh as a good worker but rejected claims he was “respectful to all”.

“You were not respectful to the complainant in any way,” she said.

“Nor did you show kindness to her as the referees suggest you do to all women.”