‘Most traumatic event of my life’: nurse recalls horror after being raped by unregistered Uber driver
A nurse enjoying a night out with friends ended up enduring the “most traumatic event” of her life after an unregistered Uber driver picked her up in a Richmond street before raping her.
Inner East
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A nurse taken from a Richmond street, driven to Mulgrave and raped by an unregistered Uber driver on a bridging visa said it was the “most traumatic event” in her life.
The victim, who cannot be named, was drinking with friends at the Swan Hotel before leaving to walk home along Church St just after 2am in late 2018.
The woman, who an expert predicted had a blood-alcohol content of about 0.20, stopped to vomit and then slumped to the ground when she was approached by her attacker, Manpreet Singh, who helped her to her feet.
CCTV showed the woman walking away but Singh guided her towards his car.
She broke away from him but Singh got back in his car and followed his victim.
The woman, who had earlier drunk at the Richmond Club Hotel, had “no recollection” of the next few hours until she woke up at 5am to find Singh raping her in his Mulgrave home.
She was able to run away and call police.
Singh was arrested the next day and gave a “no comment” interview to police.
He fronted the County Court on August 8 where he pleaded guilty to rape.
Prosecutor Hilary Bonney said the victim was “intoxicated” and in a “highly distressed state” when Singh drove her to his house and raped her.
“(The victim) was coming in and out of consciousness and had no recollection (of how she got to Singh’s home),” Ms Bonney said.
The woman said in her victim impact statement the offence caused her to become distrustful, wary of strangers and gave her nightmares, depression and anxiety.
She said it led to the breakup of her relationship of six years and forced her to leave her job.
“I don’t feel safe in the world like I used to,” she said.
“The trauma has affected my memory and ability to focus.
“(It’s) the most traumatic event in my life.
“I’m determined to fight hard for my future and my wellbeing.”
Singh, 28, was in Australia on a bridging visa when he raped his victim.
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He was also driving the Uber using another person’s registration.
Judge Peter Lauritsen remanded Singh in custody to be sentenced on September 11.
Singh, who wept in court, will be deported to India following his sentence.
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