Posted on the 11th May 2026 in PHTM News

OXFORD MAN RISKS FACIAL PARALYSIS AFTER TAXI DRIVER ATTACKED HIM FOLLOWING DISPUTE

A man in his mid-60s has been left with a fractured jaw and the looming threat of permanent facial paralysis following a violent confrontation outside a library in Oxford.

The incident, which occurred on March 23, reportedly began when the man questioned a taxi driver for parking in a disabled bay without a Blue Badge.

The victim, who has requested anonymity, claims the situation escalated rapidly after he offered to help the driver avoid a ticket.

According to his account, the driver reacted with hostility, pushing him across the road and eventually shouting that the victim had assaulted his wife - who had intervened in the argument - before delivering a punch to the face.

While the injured man was initially treated by library staff, his condition worsened significantly overnight.

After finding he could no longer eat and feeling his jaw "dropping," he sought emergency surgery at John Radcliffe Hospital. His recovery has been plagued by complications, including a painful abscess that required a second operation and a five-day hospital stay.

The long-term outlook remains uncertain for the Oxford resident, who must now use wooden spatulas to stretch his jaw. 

"I could be permanently paralysed as there’s no guarantee there won’t be nerve damage through the impact," he said. "They said to give it 18 months and if the nerve sensations don’t come back on that side of the face then that’s that."

Oxford City Council has confirmed the driver is licensed through the local authority and stated they are working with Thames Valley Police to investigate the matter under council enforcement procedures.

Police have confirmed that no arrests have been made yet and are appealing for witnesses to come forward using reference 43260141632.


Read another story