A taxi driver has been accused of harassing a female passenger for sex.

The man allegedly took the woman the wrong way home, stopping twice on the way once in a dark driveway before taking her to the address she requested.

Once in her driveway, he allegedly told her he would waive the fare if she had sex with him. When the woman refused he got out of the vehicle and grabbed her arm.

The woman then walked away and he told her, "f*** you".

Neither the man nor the woman can be named for legal reasons. The man denies invading the privacy of a woman by accosting, and uttering words in a manner to cause alarm. He represented himself at his trial at Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Crown counsel Larissa Burgess told the court the defendant picked up the woman and a friend at the 24-hour gas station in Hamilton at 3.30 a.m. on January 25.

The friends had just got something to eat and were trying to get a taxi home after a night out in Front Street.

Taking the witness stand, the woman said she asked the driver to drop her friend off first in Paget. She sat in the rear of the vehicle on the left-hand side behind the passenger seat.

She gave the man her address and he then drove towards Hamilton Parish.

Once in Flatts however, instead of taking the North Shore Road he turned into Harrington Sound Road.

The woman told the court: "He was asking me if I had a boyfriend and I told him yes. He told me he had a girlfriend and said she wouldn't mind me having sex with him.

"That's when he said, 'when you get to your house you could take me upstairs'. He kept saying, 'I'm a good guy, I'm a good guy'.

"By this time we had gotten to just before the post office at Devil's Hole and we pulled up into a dark driveway. He asked me if this was where I stayed and I said no, and gave him my address again."

The driver then headed around Harrington Sound past the Holy Trinity Church. However, instead of taking her home he drove to Fractious Street.

The woman said: "He pulled over again and I told him, 'This is not where I stay. Take me home'. He kept saying, 'When we get to your house I will take you upstairs. My girlfriend won't mind'."

When the taxi arrived at her house the bill was $40 but she only had a $50 note.

The woman said he then pulled out a packet of condoms and tried to give her one, which she refused.

"He said, 'I'll give you back the $50 and you can take me upstairs'. I said 'no' and asked him for my change again.

"I got out of the taxi and said, 'keep the change' and started to walk off. He got out of the taxi, gripped my right arm and said, 'if you show me your house I'll bring you your money tomorrow'."

Ms Burgess asked: "How were you feeling at the time he gripped your arm?"

"Scared," she said. "I was more shocked than anything. I pulled my arm away and started to walk away. He said, 'f*** you'."

The man then drove off.

Defending himself, the man told the woman yesterday: "I admit to myself I gripped your arm, but not aggressively, not to go and have sex with you."

He told the court: "I believe I'm here because of some money being owed. Anytime someone is offended in any way, especially a female, they go to the Police. I'm not saying everybody is the same...

"She was angry because she didn't get her change. In no way was I trying to harm this girl or make her feel uncomfortable in any way.

"I've driven a taxi for three years and have never been reported for any incident of this sort in my life."

He denied driving to Devil's Hole or Fractious Street, and of making any sexual advances.

"I don't remember anything from that night," he said. "I just remember the argument we had when the meter stopped and over the money.

"I have plenty of women that can vouch for me, that I'm a nice guy and have got manners, and I respect the female."

He told Ms Burgess in cross-examination: "I didn't grab her arm. I told her to take the money."

But he then admitted: "When she walked away I wanted to give her her money back and I grabbed her arm. I didn't grab her arm aggressively. I said, 'take you money back'."

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo adjourned his verdict until April 29. Bail was extended until then.