Driver smacked me in the face and broke my phone

^ 100%

everyone talking about provocation needs to sort their shit out

Police always going to close case, no surprise there unfortunately.

If they were on it surely there is CCTV somewhere down Brick Lane / Bethnal that would pick the car up coming or leaving. That would give you plates and a driver to at least talk to.

Unfortunately they aren't and unlikely any amount of complaining will do that. All my sympathy Judith because it's scary enough being almost hit by a car let alone actually hit by the driver and then your phone wrecked on top of that! What an unmitigated shit.

Judith, have you tried connecting the phone to your computer? Might be a bit last gasp, but may work.

Not sure about android based phones, but if it's an iPhone it's worth seeing if the apple store can help...... Please push with the police as the situation is assault, outside of driving issues and the initial altercation, that's a charge sheet waiting to happen. Go back to the police station in person and question the case closed situation. Take a friend for support.
Stick to the facts, and let us know how you go.

^^ Yeah, it's hard to believe the bit where the op states there's 'no cctv', but just to be clear, the very north end of Dick Lane isn't at the junction with BGR (where you'd imagine there would be lots of surveillance), it's actually a hundred yards north past the old polo court, a quiet bit of residential near some very 'I didn't see nuffin' kind of estates.

If you are able to retreive a photo of the driver's number plate, the police should be told. Even if there's no way of charging the driver with common assault, he might at least have second thoughts the next time he has an altercation with a cyclist.

hope you find the nasty driver and punch him in the face =)

Its not much, but I have an old HTC wildfire that is unlocked all sims. Its a smart phone, although not the speediest. Ive been keeping hold of it for no reason for about three years. You want it?

Just dropping in to say WAFC. Good luck with this - really recommend making all the calls re: CCTV soon, as it only gets more difficult with time.