Ex-taxi driver Ajaypal Singh pleads guilty in Southport Magistrates Court to sexually assaulting passenger
A former Gold Coast taxi driver has faced court after sexually assaulting a female passenger in his vehicle. Read full details here.
Police & Courts
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A former Gold Coast taxi driver has been told it was “honest but unreasonable” to believe a female passenger would welcome his sexual advances.
Ajaypal Singh, 26, pleaded guilty this week to sexually assaulting a woman he picked up from a central Gold Coast suburb late at night on December 26 last year.
The pair chatted throughout the woman’s trip home, with footage of their exchange played to Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
The woman could be heard talking about going out on her own after a recent relationship breakdown, making brief comments throughout the conversation about a vibrator and Singh being “very handsome”.
The court was told Singh assaulted the woman while she was searching for her bank card to pay for the trip, reaching across and quickly touching her nipple.
It was heard the woman gave a social media contact to Singh in response to him asking for her number after getting out of the taxi. She later made a complaint.
Defence lawyer Dan Rawlings, of Rawlings Criminal Law, said Singh had struggled to find work after his taxi licence was cancelled and now largely relied on friends for support.
Mr Rawlings said the qualified electrical engineer hoped to get a job in the mining industry, and asked that a conviction not be recorded to help his job prospects.
Magistrate Sarah Thompson said while Singh’s victim was clearly “disinhibited” during their conversation, all passengers were entitled to feel safe in a taxi or rideshare service.
“As a result of what transpired between you and the complainant in the car, you were under the misapprehension that she was going to be receptive to your advances,” Ms Thompson said.
“In those circumstances it was an honest belief held by you, but unreasonable.”
Singh pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault.
He was ordered to complete 150 hours’ community service and no conviction was recorded.
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