A MAN has appeared in court accused of driving into a pedestrian, flinging him into the air before speeding off.

Andy Payne, 53, was flung into the air by a Fiat 500 which smashed into him as he crossed the road.

Sussex Police released shocking footage of the incident which was viewed hundreds of thousands of times and Crimestoppers teamed up with The Argus to offer a reward to catch the driver.

Adam McDermott, 32, of Vernon Terrace yesterday appeared in court accused of speeding onto the wrong side of the road in Montague Place Kemp Town on the afternoon of January 14 and knocking Mr Payne flying into the air as he crossed the road. McDermott is then accused of fleeing the scene.

Mr Payne suffered "life changing" injuries as a result of the incident including bleeding on the brain and having to have seven staples put in his head.

McDermott, his girlfriend Robyn Burns, 29, also of Vernon Terrace, and a second man Clark Walker are then accused of setting fire to the Fiat in Madehurst Close, Brighton, and reporting it stolen.

At Brighton Magistrates' Court yesterday McDermott did not enter any plea to charges of causing injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without insurance and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Burns did not enter a plea to a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

They were both released on conditional bail to appear at Lewes Crown Court on January 12.

Shocking footage of the hit-and-run was released by Sussex Police after the incident in a bid to find the driver of the vehicle and was viewed by more than 3milllion people in the bid to catch the driver.

Afterwards Mr Payne's wife Lisa said she could not bear to watch the footage but thanked The Argus for making the footage public.

She told The Argus: “The support we have had has been incredible, we feel very well looked after and comforted.”