My Uber nightmare: Woman, 22, reveals the horrific moment her ride share driver sexually assaulted her as she ‘froze’ in the front seat – but her attacker AVOIDS jail
- Stephanie Corbett said her Uber driver waited until he dropped her friend home
- When she was alone in the car with him he attempted to sexually touch her
- She reported the incident to police who found his DNA under her clothes
- The man, Venkhat Soori, was convicted and given a $6,000 fine for the incident
A young woman who was sexually assaulted by her Uber driver on her way home from a night out with friends claims she felt like the man saw her as an ‘easy target’.
Stephanie Corbett, now 22, said her Uber driver waited until he had dropped her two friends home in Melbourne before he acted inappropriately toward her.
Ms Corbett claimed Venkhat Soori rubbed his hand up and down her leg before eventually sliding his hand up her top, while she repeatedly asked him to stop.
Stephanie Corbett, now 22, said her Uber driver waited until he had dropped her two friends home in Melbourne before he acted inappropriately toward her
He was convicted for sexual assault and fined $6,000. He spent no time in jail, but Judge Michael Tinney said he very well could have when he attempted to appeal his already lenient sentence.
Soori is no longer employed by Uber, but at the time of the offence had a great customer satisfaction rating and had been with the ride-share service for four years.
‘I was put in a situation where someone that I trusted and paid to drive me home saw me as an easy target,’ she told friends and family on social media.
‘Unlucky for him, I wasn’t about to let him off so easy.’
She told Daily Mail Australia Soori offered her a ‘massage’ when she was left alone in the car, and even offered to pull over before her home to give her a ‘proper one’.
‘I realised we were getting quite close to my house and I was scared for him to know where I lived. I was really worried he was going to do something really bad.
‘I told him to stop the car about a street away from my house and I got out and hid in the car park of an apartment complex until I saw his car drive away.’
Ms Corbett said it took her three days to report the incident to police, after fretting that he could do the same – or worse – to another victim.
Ms Corbett claimed Venkhat Soori (pictured) rubbed his hand up and down her leg before eventually sliding his hand up her top, while she repeatedly asked him to stop
She said the police and everyone involved in bringing about justice were ‘fantastic’ and really sought to make sure she was comfortable.
They took DNA samples from the clothes she was wearing and found Soori’s DNA on the inside of her top, though he denied ever touching her at all.
While the case was initially set to go to trial, Soori pleaded guilty to the charges at the ‘very last minute’.
Ms Corbett believes it was a tactic to avoid a harsher sentence.
Judge Michael Tinney dismissed his appeal.
‘I just couldn’t let it go… It’s not in my nature to let people get away with things.
‘I think these punishments need to send a message to stop anyone else who is thinking of doing the same thing.’
Ms Corbett encourages anyone who has been put in a similar situation to speak up to help destroy the stigma surrounding sexual abuse.
A spokesman for Uber told Daily Mail Australia that the company immediately removed the driver’s access to the Uber app and reached out to law enforcement to offer assistance.
‘The safety of our riders and driver-partners is a top priority. If any incidents are reported, we work to support local authorities with their investigation,’ the spokesman said.
s Corbett said it took her three days to report the incident to police, after fretting that he could do the same – or worse – to another victim