A taxi driver who indecently assaulted a young female passenger during a late-night trip has lost his appeal, with the Supreme Court upholding his three-month jail sentence.
Hitesh Singh, 38, touched the 22-year-old woman’s breast for five minutes after persistently pursuing her sexually during a July 2023 trip in Launceston.
The entire incident was captured on the taxi’s CCTV.
Justice Kate Cuthbertson ruled the Magistrates Court was right to impose a partially suspended five-month sentence, with three months to be served immediately.
“The abuse of the applicant’s position as a taxi driver, combined with the persistent and predatory way in which he sought to engage a vulnerable complainant in sexual activity, warranted a sentence which emphasised general deterrence and denunciation,” Justice Cuthbertson said.
The victim, who has epilepsy and a learning disability, had been drinking at a family birthday party before Singh collected her just after 12:30am.
Within 90 seconds of entering the taxi, Singh asked about her partner and suggested he could be her boyfriend instead.
Despite her repeated refusals and saying she was “too pi–ed” and just wanted to go home, Singh kept pressing.
He lied about his age, questioned whether anyone was home and made increasingly sexual comments.
When they arrived at her address, Singh turned around in his seat and put his hand under her top, touching her breast over her bra.
The court heard the victim has suffered lasting psychological harm, including episodes of self-harm and an ongoing fear of taxis and public transport.
Singh argued his sentence was too harsh, claiming the magistrate should have fully suspended it rather than ordering jail time.
But Justice Cuthbertson dismissed the appeal, noting taxi drivers occupy positions of trust.
“The community is entitled to expect that taxi drivers can be trusted. That particularly applies to the carriage of female passengers at night,” she said, quoting an earlier case.
Singh has lost his taxi licence and Working with Vulnerable People registration since the offence.
He was also placed on the sex offender register for four years.
