Distressing footage has surfaced of an Uber driver appearing to kick a female supermarket worker to the ground, prompting calls for stronger worker protections.
The woman, aged in her 20s, was left ‘terrified’ by the incident, which unfolded in the carpark of a Coles supermarket in Inglewood, in Perth‘s inner-city, last Tuesday.
CCTV footage obtained by ABC News captured the moment the man appeared to walk past her nonchalantly before allegedly kicking her to the ground.
She remained on the asphalt for a few moments before the man appeared to chase her out of view of the camera.
Police allege the rideshare driver, a 27-year-old man from Beckenham, made verbal threats against the worker before physically assaulting her and driving away.
He was charged with assaulting a retail worker who was performing their duties and making a threat to unlawfully do an act.
The supermarket worker, who did not wish to be named, told the broadcaster the man kicked her after she asked him to separate the delivery orders.
‘I was so scared, like, terrified,’ she said.
CCTV footage captured the alleged assault outside in the carpark of a Perth supermarket
The 27-year-old rideshare driver has been charged with assault and making a threat
She said her employer contacted Uber and asked them to ban the 27-year-old from driving for them until an investigation into the incident was concluded.
Her mother described the incident as ‘shocking’ and said it posed ‘a real concern’ for female safety.
‘To be in that situation was quite clearly terrifying,’ she said.
She also raised concerns about information sharing between rideshare platforms, asking whether the driver in question could feasibly work for another service.
Daily Mail Australia understands Coles notified Uber of the incident and has worked closely with WA Police.
It cast doubts on recent efforts to crack down on retail worker violence across the state, including a new ‘assault retail worker’ offence imposed in WA in July last year.
Since, then 329 people have been charged with the new offence which increased the maximum penalty to seven years imprisonment, or three years and a fine of $36,000.
‘Just like other Western Australians, retail workers have every right to feel safe in their workplace,’ Police Minister Paul Papalia said at the time.
‘These tougher penalties send a strong message that violent behaviour towards staff simply doing their job won’t be tolerated.’
The 27-year-old man is due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court next month.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Uber for comment.
