Jail for man who racially attacked taxi driver in Dartford

A taxi driver who was racially assaulted during an unprovoked incident in Dartford has seen his attacker jailed.

On Wednesday 15 January 2025, a minor collision occurred at Crossways Boulevard involving a taxi and a Peugeot.

Both vehicles had stopped at the side of the road and the drivers began to exchange details.

Oliver Dryden, who was a front seat passenger in the Peugeot, got out of the car and began attacking the driver of the taxi. Dryden punched his victim in the chest as well as his face and jaw before racially abusing him.

As the victim tried to go back to his car, Dryden dragged him to the floor and kicked him to the face as well as stamping on his head multiple times.

When members of the public tried to intervene, 30 year old Dryden threw an unknown object at the victim’s car and punched the window.

He then left the scene before officers arrived.

Arrest

Following enquiries, officers located Dryden in a pub in Bromley and he was arrested on 22 January 2025.

He was subsequently charged with racially aggravated assault, racially aggravated damage to property and affray.

Dryden, from Doveney Close, Orpington pleaded guilty to the offences at an earlier hearing and on Tuesday 11 August 2026 he was jailed for two years and three months at Maidstone Crown Court.

Investigating officer Police Constable Ellie Boden said: ‘This was a completely unprovoked attack on an innocent man. ‘The assault was carried out in broad daylight and in front of several witnesses. The victim was also subjected to racist abuse, which makes Dryden's actions all the more unacceptable. ‘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.’