Brighton Uber driver who was victim of racist attack sees daughter

Mansoor Ahmad, 32, faced a torrent of racist abuse and had his nose broken in three different places after a customer accused him of ripping them off on Christmas day.

The passengers wanted to stop off somewhere and he said they asked to add it as a stop, in line with Uber policy. After being called a “Paki” and “refugee” – Mansoor cancelled the trip and asked the customers to find another Uber.

He was punched twice outside his car in Bevendean Road, Brighton, and the three people - a man and two women - ran off. Mansoor’s ordeal left him scarred and “too scared” to leave the house after the incident.

• READ MORE: Uber driver's nose broken as he is battered by racist customer on Christmas day

One of his main worries was not being able to fly back to his native Pakistan on January 4 to meet his one-year-old daughter, Abeeha, who he had not yet met due to the pandemic.

Mansoor said he still feels traumatised by the incident but feels some comfort being able to “hug and kiss” his daughter.

Sussex Police are investigating the incident which they have noted as a "racially aggravated assault" but confirmed “no arrest” has been made on the person who punched Mansoor.

Left is Mansoor just after the attack, right is him a week after the attack

Meanwhile, Uber said it has been in contact with the police and has banned the rider from its platform. Mansoor says he is “not happy” with the current situation regarding the investigation.

Speaking from the city of Peshawar in Pakistan, Mansoor told of his stay back home with his wife and family. He has still not told his family how the incident happened, stating he broke his nose from falling on some stairs.

He said: “I am really happy, I get to hug her and kiss her on the forehead. It is something that has really helped my mental situation. My attention diverted which has helped me to overcome my emotions, shock and trauma.

Mansoor returned home to Pakistan on January 4

“It’s nice to see your kid for the first time but also when you go through this traumatising situation, when I got to see my daughter I felt comforted. I felt a lot better by seeing her.

“I was encouraged by my GP to get home and see my daughter because she said it would help my mind and recovery.”

Despite the solace of seeing his daughter, Mansoor can still picture the incident when he sleeps.

Mansoor and Abeeha

He said: “Sometimes when I sleep here, I wake up in the night and I have night sweats and terrors. My wife is asking me ‘what’s wrong?’ and I just say I don’t know. I tell her I just had a nightmare or bad dream because I can’t really tell my family the truth.

“It’s happened three to four times, it’s raining and I’m at work and it’s that same tall guy with a black hoodie hitting me. When I get up, I’m sweating and have very heavy breathing. My wife is a bit concerned.”

Mansoor is planning on flying back to England in March but said he is prepared to fly back earlier if the police need to speak with him.

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