Drunk City worker Rupert Phoenix caused £1,200 damage to Uber after £5 booking mix-up

Criminal damage: broker Rupert Phoenix said he had drunk four pints
Tony Palmer
Tony Palmer16 December 2016
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A drunken City worker kicked an Uber driver’s door causing £1,200 damage in a row over £5 in a booking mix-up.

Rupert Phoenix, 28, a broker at a major aircraft insurer, ground his foot into the car’s paintwork before making off, a court heard.

He was traced by police via his online booking and pleaded guilty to a single charge of causing criminal damage to a VW Passat owned by Theo Nwachuku in Lower Richmond Road.

Saliha Ayub, prosecuting, told Wimbledon magistrates’ court that Phoenix had drunk four pints when he got into the cab at 8.40pm on September 17.

She said: “The driver said ‘hello’ but Mr Phoenix did not reply and the driver noticed a smell of alcohol.”

The driver understood the booking was for an address in Fulham, but Phoenix insisted he wanted to go to St Pancras station. Ms Ayub said: “There was an argument in the cab, the driver said he would not continue and Mr Phoenix got out. He slammed the door, then kicked the door and rubbed his foot on it.

“Mr Nwachuku got out to confront Mr Phoenix, who was walking away from the scene, and he denied all knowledge of causing any damage.” She said that when traced and questioned by police, Phoenix claimed there had been an argument and “the driver had been rude to him”.

“He said he had four pints and was fairly drunk,” she added.

Phoenix told the court: “I think part of the argument was that something had gone wrong with the system and he was charging me £5. My actions that night were reckless and idiotic.” Phoenix, of Bedford, was conditionally discharged for six months and ordered to pay £1,200 compensation for the damage, plus £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Phoenix apologised to the driver for his actions, saying he wished he could tell Mr Nwachuku in person. He told the Standard: “If he had been there I would have said sorry, but unfortunately he wasn’t.”

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