Uber driver Muhammad Naveed charged with alleged rape of passenger at Vaucluse

Uber driver Muhammad Naveed, who has been charged with allegedly raping a 22-year-old British tourist in Sydney’s east, claims the sex was consensual.

AN Uber driver has been charged with allegedly raping a British tourist in Sydney’s east on the weekend.

The ride-sharing service driver Muhammad Naveed, 39, allegedly sexually assaulted the 22-year-old woman, who had only been in the country for three weeks, in Vaucluse between 1am and 1.45am on Sunday.

The Pakistani national who has Australian residency and arrived in the country in 2007 was granted bail on $5000 surety and was made to surrender his Pakistani passport at Burwood Local Court. He was not able to raise bail and was taken into custody.

Naveed allegedly pulled alongside and offered the woman a lift home in his Hyundai i30 as she walked along Bayswater Rd which she accepted.

He then allegedly drove her to a street where he parked and raped her.

The alleged assault was reported to police before Naveed was arrested at his home in Lakemba.

He was charged with sexual intercourse without consent and was refused bail.

His lawyer Warwick Ward said it was a weak case and that they would be arguing that the sex was consensual.

Uber driver Mohammad Naveed in custody at Burwood Court / Picture: Dylan Robinson

“We’ll be arguing it was consensual,” Mr Ward said.

“I don’t think it’s going to go very far.

“There was no violence, the only sign of violence was a mark on the inside of her leg but that can happen in a normal sexual encounter.”

Police facts state the alleged victim was at World Bar in Kings Cross with three friends when she left due to feeing intoxicated about 12.30am.

She walked down Bayswater Rd carrying her shoes and stopped at a pole where Naveed allegedly approached her.

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Thinking he was a taxi driver she got into his car and directed him to her home in Vaucluse, court documents state.

About 1am CCTV captured him pulling into a service station and buying condoms on New South Head Rd, Edgecliff.

Back in the car the accused allegedly stated “hey baby, I have some condoms” before pulling into a side street off New South Head Rd a few minutes later.

There he allegedly said “baby, do you want to sit in the back”. The woman believed this was because due to her intoxication the driver did not want her falling asleep in the front seat.

Naveed allegedly helped her into the back seat where she lay down and fell asleep.

An Uber spokesman said the company would be helping police with the investigation.

She woke to allegedly find Naveed on top of her having sex with her and hit out trying to push him off her.

A couple of minutes later Naveed allegedly got back into front seat and drove her home as she fell asleep again.

He tapped the alleged victim’s knee to wake her and let her out of the car when they had arrived at her address. Inside she called a friend and police were contacted.

The woman later discovered three bruises on the inner part of her right thigh.

Police seized Naveed’s clothes from the night of the incident and his car for forensic testing yesterday following his arrest.

The accused told police that he was on a break at the time and that the sex was consensual saying, “we both agreed, I asked her a few times, she said you can have it”.

An Uber spokesman said the company would be helping police with the investigation.

“Our thoughts remain with the victim and her family in this terrible situation,” the spokesman said.

“We will do everything we can to work with the police to help with their investigation.”

The case will return to Downing Centre Local Court on December 16.

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