A hit-and-run driver knocked a stag party reveller flying into the air while speeding along Brighton seafront, a court heard.

Sanjeet Randhawa panicked and drove off after hitting Kevin Day in his red BMW.

Mr Day was hurled onto the roof of the car before landing in the road. He is still recovering from serious injuries.

At Lewes Crown Court Randhawa, 26, denies dangerous driving.

The court heard the accident happened in the early hours of September 17 last year as Mr Day, from Essex, and a group of friends were walking back to their hotel at about 1.20am after spending the night out in Brighton.

They were crossing Grand Junction Road when Mr Day was hit by the car.

Danny Robinson, prosecuting, told the jury the prosecution allege Randhawa was driving too fast at the time taking into account the streets were busy with late-night revellers.

He said police estimated the BMW was travelling at between 39mph and 43mph. There is a 30mph speed limit along that stretch of road.

Mr Robinson said: "The prosecution say he was driving his car too fast. We say he should have taken much more care driving in that area of Brighton at that time on a Saturday night when a lot of people were milling around."

The court heard Mr Day has no recollection of the accident.

Mr Robinson said Randhawa only stayed at the scene for a short time before driving off.

He said: "We say it may well be Mr Randhawa realised his driving was so bad he was in a great deal of trouble. We say this was effectively a hit and run."

After the crash, passersby took down the registration number and the BMW was traced to Randhawa's home in Hove. He has since moved to Nottingham.

When police arrived at his house in Hove he was standing outside looking at the damage to his car, which had a broken fog light, damage to the windscreen and dents on the bonnet and roof.

He told officers he could not explain how the accident happened and maintained he was not driving over 30mph at the time.

Mr Robinson said Randhawa told police he drove off after the crash because he panicked.

Mr Day's friend Craig Alderson told the court the two men were standing side-by-side waiting to cross the road after spending time at a seafront nightclub.

He said although the group of friends had been drinking no one was so drunk they were staggering about.

He said he became aware of headlights from an on-coming car and decided to wait until the vehicle had passed.

He said: "The car was certainly going faster than it should have been in my judgement. As the car passed me I heard a bang. It instantly dawned on me it must have hit somebody. I looked to my left and noticed Kev was not near me anymore.

"I had a sinking realisation it must have been Kev and then I noticed the silhouette of a body coming off the roof of the car."

The trial continues.