A TAXI driver who kissed his passenger was fined $1000 in Mandurah Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lakhbir Singh, 34, was originally charged with indecent assault in relation to the April 19 incident.
This was amended to common assault just before Mr Singh entered a guilty plea.
The court heard Mr Singh was on night shift when a 25-year-old woman hailed a taxi on Mandurah Terrace just after midnight.
The woman sat in the front passenger seat and was intoxicated and crying, according to the police facts read in court.
Mr Singh drove to an Erskine address and the woman paid the fare before searching for her house keys.
Mr Singh helped the woman look for the keys before leaning towards her and kissing her on the cheek.
Counsel for Mr Singh said his client was comforting the woman who was “extremely emotional and highly intoxicated”.
Mr Singh’s lawyer said the woman had been cuddling the driver during the trip, but that Mr Singh, who is married with three children, had no sexual interest in her.
Magistrate Vivien Edwards said Mr Singh was unlikely to commit a similar offence again.
She granted a spent conviction and ordered Mr Singh to pay court costs.