An Uber passenger who farted inside the car of a professional driver was charged with assault.
The incident happened in Kingswood, England, where Alexsander Bonchev picked up a group of four partygoers with his Uber car.
As the driver and the friends were on their way to a local nightclub, 35-year-old James Mallett allegedly broke wind, prompting Bonchev to order the drunken passenger to leave his vehicle.
While Mallett allegedly agreed to leave, he challenged the driver to a fight after exiting the car. In an act of self-defense, Bonchev punched the drunken man in the face.
“As he was driving the defendant broke wind. Mr. Bonchev found that offensive. He asked them to leave the vehicle,” prosecutor David Scutt told the Bristol Crown Court.
Following the physical showdown between Mallett and the driver, a female companion allegedly persuaded the 35-year-old to leave.
“They walked off towards Forest Road and police located him in Forest Road, Fishponds. He was spoken to, he was injured and had a cut to his bottom lip. He was plainly intoxicated,” Scutt added.
According to the prosecutor, Mallett became aggressive towards the police as he insisted that he was assaulted by the Uber driver.
Representing the 35-year-old defendant, Anthony Bignall said that his client was known as a “polite, helpful, well-behaved and courteous” person who “behaved in an unattractive manner that night.”
Following the Uber incident, Mallett was sentenced to 6 months in jail, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to finish 120 hours of unpaid work. He was also told to pay £500 ($650) in compensation.
As for Mr. Bonchev, he was reportedly forced to return to his native Bulgaria after ending up homeless and unable to pay for his car due to not being able to continue working because of his broken finger.
“Mr. Bonchev sustained a broken finger, he was unable to work, lost his job with Uber, lost his accommodation and lost his car. All because he was doing his job that evening,” recorder Alexia Power explained.
Replaced!