An Uber driver gave himself a £20 tip and a five-star rating when a blind opera singer handed her phone to him.
39-year-old Victoria Oruwari gave her phone to 32-year-old Uber driver Cornel Mihai after a £51 trip from London Bridge to East Croydon.
The driver gave himself a £20 tip and a five-star rating, Croydon magistrates’ court heard.
Mihai has been convicted of fraud by false representation and will be sentenced on February 4.
Mihai picked Ms. Oruwari up from London Bridge station and they started talking with each other during the ride.
At the end of the trip, he told her that he could not end the trip on his app and asked to use her phone to end it.
Ms. Oruwari told about the incident: “I thought it was a little odd, but there was nothing in his behaviour to make me think I wasn’t safe. I did not think anything fishy was going on, but I was handing him a lot of trust.”
“It has reiterated the fact I am vulnerable and more susceptible to crime and being taken advantage of. To lead a full life I have to trust people. That has been shaken, but I am determined to continue trusting in people.”
She was shocked when she learned that she had been charged twice the fare and the driver had been rated five-star and tipped £20.
However, the Uber driver denied using her phone. He said: “I finished this journey on my phone. I want to work honestly.”
Meanwhile, Uber has also removed Mihai from its database of approved drivers. The Uber spokeswoman said it’s unacceptable and they have refunded the customer.
Ms. Oruwari is a Nigeria-born singer and she was a finalist on BBC talent show All Together Now. She has performed at the Royal Opera House.
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