Uber driver ‘smacked female customer leaving her with black eye, called her a white b***h and threw keys at her baby daughter’
Driver suspended after Annastazia Merrett, 25, alleged he also racially abused mixed-race Savannah, one
AN Uber driver has been suspended after he allegedly punched a woman passenger and threw a set of keys in her baby daughter's face.
Annastazia Merrett, 25, claims the cabbie hit her twice - leaving her with a black eye - and called her a "white bitch".
She also alleges the Asian driver racially abused mixed-race Savannah, one, referring to her father as a "slave".
The young mum, who admits hitting the driver back "in self defence", said: "It was the most horrible experience of my life.
"The most horrific thing is that the police just let him get back in the car and drive off to collect his next customer. What if he does worse to someone else?
MOST READ IN NEWS
"I was trying to get Savannah's baby seat out of the car and unlock the heavy gate at the same time so I asked him politely for a hand.
"When I dropped my keys he picked them up and threw them in my daughter's face.
"He called me a white bitch and said Savannah's dad must be a slave.
"What kind of man does that? Like any mother who had seen what had just happened to my daughter I moved towards him and he took a swipe at me.
"Admittedly, I hit him back, but it was self-defence. He punched me again and tried to drag me into his car.
"By that time I was screaming and trying to phone the police.
"My neighbours could hear what was going on in the street and the guy got back in his vehicle. I was terrified."
Annastazia also claims the driver made "disgusting" sexist remarks throughout the £25 journey home to Elephant and Castle, South London, from a wedding in Croydon last Saturday evening.
Scotland Yard said: "A woman reported that she had been punched in the face by the driver of a private hire car.
"Officers spoke to the driver who reported that he had been assaulted by the woman.
"The officers at the scene used their discretion and concluded that there were not enough grounds to arrest either party and a community resolution was agreed by all.
"The following day the woman attended a South London police station and said she was not happy with the resolution.
"Officers are reviewing the case and will be speaking to both parties involved. Enquiries continue."
An Uber spokesman said: "We have spoken to both the rider and driver about this incident and received very conflicting stories.
"We're currently liaising with the police to establish exactly what happened.
"Whilst the private hire driver strongly denies these serious allegations, we have prevented him from being able to use our app while the investigation continues."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368