Former Uber driver sentenced to 12 months for indecent assault

A former Uber driver has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for the indecent assault of a female passenger.

Muhammad Uzair Ehsan, 35, of Prospect, was found guilty by Magistrate Roderick Jensen of two counts of indecent assault following a two-day trial in August 2025.

In sentencing in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today, Magistrate Jensen said Ehsan had not demonstrated any remorse and did not accept the guilty verdict.

The court heard the victim was in an "intoxicated and vulnerable state" and had been subjected to the two acts of indecent assault while she was at the front door of her unit.

"She said that she was 'shocked and terrified' by your offending," Magistrate Jensen said.

"She thought she was doing the responsible thing by taking an Uber home so that she would not be drinking and driving."

Magistrate Jensen said by contesting the charges, the victim had been forced to go through the court process which she found "traumatic".

The magistrate relayed to the court the victim's experience of having to retell her story to police, lawyers and in court "many times".

"Sitting while the defence questioned me was humiliating and exhausting. I had to listen to lies and justify myself when I was the victim — it felt like being assaulted all over again'," the victim wrote in her statement.

The court heard the victim had also spent thousands of dollars on counselling, security measures, transport and lost wages.

Sentencing had been postponed pending an appeal which was dismissed in June, with Ehsan remanded in custody after sentencing submissions last month.

Ehsan was sentenced to 12 months in prison with a non-parole period of eight months, backdated to when he was taken into custody.

The court heard the man was living in Australia with his family as a permanent resident.

"Your application for citizenship was frustrated by your offending," Magistrate Jensen said.

"Your counsel submitted that you currently find yourself in a dire financial circumstance."

Magistrate Jensen said the Supreme Court had recognised there was a public interest in appropriately sentencing taxi and rideshare drivers who offend against their passengers.

"In such instances the drivers have a responsibility to the public to safely convey passengers who engage them, they provide an essential service to many members of the public, the public is relying on the honesty and integrity of those who transport them," he said.

In a previous statement, Uber said Ehsan no longer had access to the platform.

Ehsan will be eligible for parole in April 2027.