An Uber driver who deliberately injured a taxi driver by driving into him at speed in a brazen hit-and-run attack has been sentenced to three years behind bars.
Sukhwinder Singh Gill intentionally swerved across the road to hit Jagmeet Sidhu, who was standing beside his taxi in Surfers Paradise on May 13 last year.
The 36-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm before leaving the scene of an accident on Thursday, Seven News reports.
Gold Coast Uber driver Sukhwinder Singh Gill (pictured) intentionally drove into Jagmeet Sidhu as he stood next to his taxi in Surfers Paradise in May 13 last year
Horrifying CCTV footage from the adjacent kebab store on Laycock Street shows Mr Sidhu being thrown into the air before slamming head-first into the bitumen.
He suffered a broken leg and spent two weeks in hospital after the incident, the Southport District Court heard.
Gill, who was in custody over domestic violence and assault offences committed since the incident, was found to have charged towards Mr Sidhu from 20 metres across the road.
The court was told the two men had earlier been engaged in a ‘heated discussion’ over the phone and had arranged to meet up.
Mr Sidhu (pictured) suffered a broken leg and spent two weeks in hospital after the incident, the Southport District Court heard on Thursday
Horrifying CCTV footage (pictured) from the adjacent kebab store on Laycock Street shows Mr Sidhu being thrown into the air before slamming head-first into the bitumen
Despite initially claiming the collision was an accident, judge Katherine McGinness ruled Gill’s actions were at least intended to scare Mr Sidhu ‘if not actually hit him’.
‘It is clear you drove in his direction in anger,’ judge McGinness told Gill, adding that his driving had ‘potential to cause more serious injury and perhaps even fatal injury.’
She noted Gill had an obvious issue with anger and sentenced him to three years jail, suspended after 12 months, and disqualified his driving licence for two years.
The court was told the two men had earlier been engaged in a ‘heated discussion’ over the phone and had arranged to meet up
Mr Sidhu has not yet been capable of returning to work as a taxi driver
Taxi Council’s Blair Davies believes the penalty handed to Gill was insufficient given the severity of his crime.
‘This sentence doesn’t seem to go far enough in that space. We would have like to have seen a stronger message sent to all people out there driving cars,’ he said.
Mr Sidhu has not yet been capable of returning to work as a taxi driver.
Taxi Council’s Blair Davies believes the penalty handed to Gill (left) was insufficient given the severity of his crime