Taxi driver who sexually assaulted women was ‘significantly’ brain damaged

A taxi driver who sexually assaulted two passengers had a medical condition linked to the behaviour, a court has been told, as the devastating impact on his two victims was heard.

A taxi and rideshare driver who sexually assaulted two female passengers has been handed a reduced jail sentence after testing revealed significant brain damage likely contributed to his actions.

Sai Ram Karnekota reappeared in Southport District Court pleading guilty to three counts of sexual assault after he targeted two women on the Gold Coast.

The court was previously told Karnekota, while employed as an Uber driver, squeezed the breast of a 29-year-old woman as he dropped her off at her Mermaid Beach home in the early hours of November 6, 2022.

Months later Karnekota struck again, picking up his second victim from The Star Gold Coast in a taxi.

Sai Ram Karnekota leaving the Southport courthouse. Picture: Jessica Paul

Despite the woman’s protests, Karnekota touched her thigh and genitalia and put his hand down her dress to grab her breast, prompting his victim to jump from the vehicle while it was still moving at about 15km/h and run home.

Both women reported the sexual assaults to police in the following days.

The court was previously told Karnekota gave a “self-serving” version of events to police, claiming his second victim had consented to sexual acts when she asked whether he was having fun.

A new psychological report tendered to court on Wednesday revealed Karnekota had been suffering from “significant neuro-psychological impairments” at the time, caused by epileptic seizures and a brain lesion.

Defence barrister James Grehan of Vered Turner Lawyers said the report found Karnekota, an Indian national with tertiary qualifications and job experience as a mechanical engineer, developed a significant brain disorder impacting his ability to control his impulses.

“It has made him impulsive, such that for example, a normal person who saw something that aroused them would not act on it,” Mr Grehan said.

“Whereas Karnekota - because of the brain abnormality - has acted on it.”

The report also found Karnekota’s mental cognition had significantly declined following the onset of epileptic seizures in 2019 with executive and memory functions scoring “well below” what he would have previously scored and would likely continue to decline.

Sai Ram Karnekota leaving the Southport courthouse. Picture: Jessica Paul

He also suffers from major depressive disorder and severe anxiety and felt “severe shame and guilt” for his actions, Mr Grehan said.

Victim impact statements from both women previously read in court revealed the anxiety and distress they suffered after the assaults, with the second also describing “overwhelming” self-blame and guilt diminishing her self-worth.

Karnekota first arrived in Australia in 2018 to pursue higher studies and employment as an engineer but failed to complete his Masters before becoming a taxi driver, the court was told.

Mr Grehan said while Karnekota’s visa will expire soon, he already intended to travel back to India to support his family and reconnect with his fiance.

He said Karnekota had also saved $4000 to pay compensation to both women.

Judge Jodie Wooldridge sentenced Karnekota to 15 months imprisonment for charges one and three and six months imprisonment for charge two, both wholly suspended after two months. Karnekota was ordered to pay $4000 compensation within seven days, to be split equally between the two women.