A London Uber driver has narrowly avoided going to jail after exploiting a blind passenger by taking her phone and adding an unauthorised tip onto the trip.
Cornel Mihai, 32, took advantage of Victoria Oruwari, who is blind, as he drove her home from London Bridge station.
At the end of the journey, Mihai persuaded her to hand over her phone so that he could end the journey on the Uber app.
While doing so he added himself £20 gratuity, a tip that was not authorised by the passenger.
Mihai denied the charges but was convicted of fraud by false representation following a trial at Croydon magistrates court.
Cornel Mihai, of Dagenham, was sentenced to 5 months in custody, suspended for 12 months.
He was also handed a 6 month driving disqualification, ordered to complete 240hrs of unpaid work and pay a combined £1117.00 in compensation, victim surcharge and court costs.
Image credit: TaxiPoint
