Taxi cab driver who punched 81-year-old in face avoids jail

A Melbourne taxi driver punched an 81-year-old woman in the face and threw her out of his cab. Photo/ Thinkstock

A Melbourne taxi driver who bashed an 81-year-old woman in his cab has avoided jail.

Bhupinder Singh, 25, punched the woman in the face and pushed her out of his taxi after an argument about her destination on August 14 last year.

Singh picked up Zainab Sarwari in Noble Park and was directed to drive her to a Dandenong medical centre, but he took her to Dandenong Hospital instead.

Ms Sarwari screamed "Where are you taking me?" and was pulling at Singh's clothes and punching his shoulder, a previous court hearing was told.

Taxi data indicates Singh drove around the southeastern suburbs for more than 30 minutes before stopping in Noble Park and assaulting Ms Sarwari.

He then punched the elderly woman in the face several times before pushing her out of the cab.

Singh pleaded guilty to one charge of false imprisonment and one count of intentionally causing injury.

Victorian County Court Judge Frank Shelton sentenced Singh to nine months in jail, wholly suspended, for false imprisonment.

He ordered Singh to serve a six-month intensive corrections order for intentionally causing injury.