X Factor singer Lola Saunders' car window smashed after man mistakenly thought she was an Uber

Taranjit Mandair ordered an Uber after a night of drinking and mistakenly thought the singer’s Mini Cooper was the vehicle sent to collect him at Whitburn Road, East Boldon.

He then became “frustrated” when Miss Saunders drove away, throwing a number of coins in her wake.

They hit the rear window and it smashed.

Miss Saunders was left afraid to drive at night following the incident.

Prosecutor John Garside told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Friday, February 28 that Mandair was standing in the middle of the road as Miss Saunders approached in her car.

She slowed down because she was “concerned about the defendant’s safety” – but then thought he was going to try and get in.

In reading out part of her victim impact statement, Mr Garside said: “She’s extremely shocked and upset and afraid to drive her vehicle at night due to the incident.

“She said ‘I can’t stop thinking about what would have happened if the item had come through my window and hit me while the car was moving’.”

In mitigation, Tracey Wood told magistrates that Mandair, of Eastfields in Whitburn, relocated to the North East from Yorkshire for a fresh start and was “extremely remorseful” for what he had done.

The court also heard the 31-year-old, who has two children, does not drink regularly and that the alcohol he consumed on the night of the incident, which happened on Monday, January 6, had affected his behaviour.

Mandair, who admitted criminal damage at an earlier hearing, was sentenced to a 12-month community order and must carry out 70 hours of unpaid work.

Magistrates also ordered him to pay £200 compensation to Miss Saunders to cover her car insurance excess, money spent on taxis while her Mini was out of use and distress caused.

John Lee, chairman of the bench, added: “This must have been a horrendous experience for Lola Saunders.”

Miss Saunders came 10th in series 11 of the X Factor in 2014.

She was coached by Girls Aloud star Cheryl and appeared on the live shows after being chosen as one of that year’s wild cards.