'Sub-continental' cabbie accused of attacking, robbing 81-year-old woman in Melbourne

Melbourne, Aug 15 (ANI): A taxi driver, of Indian sub-continental appearance, reportedly attacked and robbed an 81-year-old woman at Noble Park in Melbourne's south-east on Saturday.

Police investigators have informed that the victim caught a taxi from a bus stop at the corner of Frank and Douglas streets, outside Coles in Noble Park, and asked to be taken to a medical centre.

The woman paid the driver up front before he took her in the wrong direction.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the driver began to drive in the opposite direction and when the victim requested he turn around, he drove towards Taranto.

The driver held down her seat belt forcing her to be steady, then allegedly punched her in the face a number of times and removed cash from her purse, the paper reported.

"The driver threw the purse back at her, pushed her out of the taxi and drove away. The victim managed to seek assistance from a nearby resident in Taranto Drive where an ambulance was called," police said in a statement. (ANI)