Man jailed for racist road rage attack on taxi driver

A man who racially assaulted a taxi driver during a road rage incident has been jailed.

Oliver Dryden punched and abused his victim following a minor crash at Crossways Boulevard in Dartford, Kent, in January 2025.

Dryden, of Doveney Close in Orpington, south-east London, also dragged the man to the floor, kicked him and stamped on his head multiple times, before attacking his vehicle, Kent Police said.

The 30-year-old, who previously pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault, racially aggravated damage to property and affray, was sentenced to two years and three months at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday.

Police said the attack occurred after the taxi and a Peugeot, in which Dryden was a passenger, stopped at the side of the road for both drivers to exchange details.

In addition, when members of the public tried to intervene, Dryden threw an unknown object at the victim's cab and punched the window.

He then left the scene before officers arrived, only to be arrested a week later in a pub in Bromley, south-east London.

Investigating officer for Kent Police, PC Ellie Boden called it "a completely unprovoked attack on an innocent man".

"It was also carried out in broad daylight and in front of several witnesses, with the racist abuse making it all the more unacceptable," she said.

"I welcome the sentence handed down by the court and hope it provides the victim with some reassurance that Dryden has been held accountable for his actions."

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