The Court of Appeal upheld a verdict against a ride-hailing driver, rejecting his appeal and maintaining the original sentence. In January, the Leiria court sentenced the TVDE driver to two and a half years in prison, suspended for the same period, for the sexual coercion of a minor in Leiria.
The suspension of the sentence is subject to certain conditions, including a social reintegration plan focused on the driver’s mental health, particularly sexology, under the supervision of social reintegration services.
The defendant, a 56-year-old foreign national, is also prohibited from working in any capacity involving regular contact with minors or assuming custodial responsibilities for five years. This includes adoption, guardianship, fostering, and any form of care or custody activities with children.
The driver was also ordered to pay court costs and 5,000 euros in damages to the victim for non-material losses.
The incident dates back to January 2024 when the victim’s ex-boyfriend, due to her mother’s unavailability, called a ride via the Bolt app. The minor, 16 at the time, sat in the front passenger seat when the driver made sexual comments and advances, touching her inappropriately.
During the trip, the victim contacted a friend and her mother in an attempt to dissuade the driver, but her efforts were unsuccessful.
The Leiria court observed that the teenager was left feeling scared, uncomfortable, and ashamed, fearing more severe sexual advances.
The driver acted with the intent to satisfy his sexual urges, exploiting the minor’s reduced ability to defend herself due to her age and the fact that she was alone with him in the vehicle.
No previous complaints were recorded against the driver in a professional capacity, and his criminal record revealed no prior incidents.
The facts of the case were known to the employer, yet the driver’s work as a ride-hailing driver continued unaffected.
During the trial, the defendant confirmed the transport of the minor but denied the allegations detailed in the prosecution’s indictment.
