Uber pays tens of thousands to two women sexually assaulted by driver, in landmark UK case
UBER has paid tens of thousands of pounds to women sexually assaulted by a driver in a landmark UK case.
The two women were collected separately by Naveed Iqbal, 41, in a VW Sharan.
One fell asleep in the front and woke to find Iqbal fondling her breasts.
The other, who booked a week later, was taken to a dark road near her home where Iqbal “put his hands on my chest and under my clothes”.
Both reported the matters to the police but he was not charged with a criminal offence.
However, he lost his licence in 2017 at Leeds court after a judge found that on the balance of probabilities he had assaulted the women in the city.
The first woman said: “My life has been turned upside down. My initial reaction was anger but I quickly developed anxiety.
I now find it difficult to trust others. This could have been prevented
Second victim
"Everything has also had a huge impact on my career.”
The second, who booked in December 2015, said: “I now find it difficult to trust others. This could have been prevented.”
Irwin Mitchell's lawyer Emma Crowther said: “These are deeply upsetting cases.
“If Uber had properly investigated the assault suffered by our first client then we believe the driver would not have picked up the second, during which it is reported he escalated in his abusive behaviour.”
MOST READ IN UK NEWS
Rape Crisis said: “The trauma of assaults can have long-lasting effects.”
Uber said: “There’s no place for this behaviour in our community.”
West Yorks cops said the cases ended due to “evidential difficulties, some in relation to the suspect’s ID”.
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]