Mitchell Gordon pleads guilty to assaulting Uber driver, stealing his car at Winston Hills

A passenger has admitted verbally abusing and assaulting a ride share driver in northwest Sydney where the L-plater stole the SUV before abandoning it and running to his mum’s home. Read the latest.

A passenger who terrorised an Uber driver and stole his car in a wild journey through northwest Sydney has admitted to afflicting the driver almost a year to the day of the offence.

More details have emerged about the abuse Mitchell Gordon, 24, inflicted on the 49-year-old driver in the early hours of June 24 last year, after he pleaded guilty to several charges via video link at Parramatta Local Court last week.

Gordon went into the Volkswagen Tiguan Uber with a school mate at Box Hill before 1am to make his way to Lanhams Rd, Winston Hills, where Gordon lived with his mother and aunt.

Police facts tendered to the court state Gordon demanded the driver take them to the Shell Coles Express at Rouse Hill where he and the associate spent almost $170 on items including a sausage roll, gloves, a beanie, a V energy drink and cigarettes.

As the ride made its way to Winston Hills, Gordon threw the energy drink bottle towards the floor of the front passenger footwell, causing the victim to harshly brake.

Mitchell Gordon has pleaded guilty to the offence a year ago. Picture: NSW Police

Gordon’s aggression towards the driver kept growing and he unleashed a torrent of abuse on him and demanded he run a red light, while his friend tried to calm the situation.

The friend is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Gordon abandoned the Uber SUV after stealing it from the terrified driver. Picture: NSW Police

Police stated Gordon abused the driver when he spotted the security camera.

“Don’t go on your phone, you wanna f--k with me lad?’’ the police fact sheets state.

Gordon continued to unleash on the driver and threaten him when he asked who was on the phone.

“(Gordon) said – ‘whose on the phone, you wanna see your kids again?’,” the facts continued.

Gordon has been on remand since his arrest. Picture: NSW Police

“Cuz don’t f--king talk s--t to me, or I’ll rip your f--king security camera of your f--king thing cuz.’.’’

The victim complied with an “OK” but Gordon continued the abuse.

“You make sure we’re clear to go and you f--king drive. You wanna play with me mother f--ker … you think I’m a joke, how do I get rid of this f--king recording after? I’m taking your phone too you mad c--t, you wanna f--kin f--k with me.’’

At 2.10am, Gordon reached over from the rear passenger seat, pulled the victim’s shirt, causing it to rip, and punched him repeatedly in the head with closed fists.

He suffered abrasions to his nose, mouth, left cheek and chin, severe swelling to his face, and bleeding from his nose and mouth, and was taken to hospital.

The assault caused him to swerve over the road and – fearing for his safety – and he fled from the SUV. After several seconds, the victim returned to the vehicle to collect his keys before hiding behind a nearby bush at Kindelan Rd, Winston Hills.

He managed to recover the dash camera on the road after Gordon tore it out and dumped it there.

Gordon – a learner driver – drove the car to Junction Rd, Winston Hills, where he abandoned it. Police seized it at 9.30am that day and also found the victim’s destroyed iPhone down a drain at Winston Hills.

The Public Order Riot Squad swarmed Gordon’s home at noon when he was arrested.

While in custody, police told Gordon they believed his hands and arms could contain an

accelerant which they believed to be the petrol contained in a red coloured jerry can found in his garage.

They placed exhibits bags on his hands to preserve the evidence but shortly afterwards, Gordon ripped both bags off his arms, spat on his hands and attempted to wipe and clean his hands.

“Crime scene officers declined to attend and obtain a forensic sample from the accused’s hands due to his violence and hostility towards police,’’ police facts said.

At court on Thursday, Gordon pleaded guilty to aggravated stealing from a person and inflicting actual bodily harm, taking and driving a conveyance without consent of the owner, hindering or resisting a police officer in the execution of duty and learner not accompanied by a driver/police officer/tester.

A charge of aggravated taking/driving a motor vehicle with a person inside inflicting actual bodily harm was withdrawn, along with aggravated robbery and inflicting actual bodily harm, and tampering with evidence with intent to mislead a judicial tribunal.

He will face sentencing at Parramatta District Court on July 18.