A Maidstone reveller subjected a taxi driver to a tirade of racist abuse before assaulting him in a vile Brexit-fuelled attack.

Ashley Greenwood kicked cabbie Ali Zamani and told him to “go back to his own country” after a dispute about a fare, Maidstone Magistrates’ Court heard.

It was 2am when Mr Zamani picked up Greenwood and a friend, who said they only had a £5 note to pay for the journey from Park Wood to The Lion of Kent pub in Bearsted.

The Express Taxis driver explained it was likely to be more but agreed to drop them off when the meter reached £5.

Christopher Stringer, prosecuting, told the court as the cab was about to stop, Greenwood, of Graveney Road, said: “You foreigners are ripping us off,” before making a derogatory comment about the driver being Polish.

He then told Mr Zamani – an Afghan national – that he needed to leave the country because the UK had voted out of the EU.

After the men agreed to pay the full fare and were dropped off, Greenwood, who had drunk five or six beers, opened the driver’s door and told Mr Zamani to get out.

The court heard he threw some punches, which missed, before kicking the driver in the leg.

While in police custody, the 26-year-old described Mr Zamani as a “dirty mongrel” and asked why an English police officer was arresting an English man.

He denied saying anything offensive, or attacking the driver.

It happened on July 2 – nine days after the referendum on June 23.

Giving evidence, Mr Zamani said: “When I picked them up they seemed like normal people.

“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I was really hurt by it.

“I told him to calm down and not to be nasty. I am scared now this has happened.”

On Tuesday Greenwood, who did not attend court, was found guilty of racially aggravated assault and a warrant was issued.

At an earlier hearing he admitted possession of cannabis, found on him during a search at the scene, and is due to be sentenced on both charges when arrested.