An Uber driver has been jailed for at least six years and four months for raping a passenger in Sydney’s East.
Judge Deborah Payne found Muhammad Naveed “took advantage in the most terrible way of a very vulnerable lady”.
It was October 2015 on Bayswater Road at Kings Cross when Naveed offered a lift home to the young woman, who had been drinking with friends for most of the day and had an estimated blood alcohol reading of 0.231.
At Edgecliff Naveed pulled into a service station where he bought condoms and a bottle of water. As he drove away he told the woman “hey baby I’ve got some condoms”.
Naveed was captured on CCTV at a service station picking up condoms. (Supplied)
The trial heard he then pulled over on a street off of New South Head Road and helped the victim into the back seat where he raped her.
The victim says she woke up as he was having sex with her. She tried to push him off and tried to say “no go away get off” but said “the words didn’t really come out of my mouth, and I didn’t have any strength in me”.
After he finished he dropped her home.
When questioned by police he told them the sex was consensual.
The jury disagreed finding him guilty of sexual intercourse without consent after just hours of deliberation in February.
Justice Payne told the court Naveed “must have been aware very early on of her intoxicated and sleepy state … he formed the intention to have sexual contact with her with or without her voluntary consent”.
She also found “there has still been no clear acceptance by him of his guilt…”
Naveed looked distressed after he was told he would not be eligible for parole until 2023.
Outside court his lawyer said he would appeal.
9News Australia
