A motorist accused of attempted murder said he sped away from the scene because he was frightened.

Gary Brooks denied losing his temper with a drunken pedestrian and running him over on a zebra crossing.

He told the jury he had no intention of hitting Sean Jones, who was seriously injured and has suffered brain damage. He said he accidentally collided with him as he manoeuvred past him.

Brooks, 33, told the court he was in a happy mood as he drove home listening to an Elvis Presley CD.

He had spent the day in France with two friends buying champagne for a party he was having two days later to celebrate his second wedding anniversary.

He said he saw Mr Jones crawling on all fours like a dog as he approached the crossing in Portland Road, Hove.

When he came to a stop, Mr Jones put his hands on the bonnet and he thought he was trying to climb on to the car.

Father-of-four Brooks told Hove Crown Court yesterday he thought it was a lark at first but then he started to feel frightened of Mr Jones's behaviour. He revved his engine and Mr Jones, of Portslade, moved away.

Brooks said he believed Mr Jones had got out of the way and he drove forward. He said Mr Jones must have staggered back just at the moment his car moved.

He realised he had hit him and panicked. He switched off the lights of the car and sped away.

During cross-examination by John Price, prosecuting, Brooks denied losing his temper and driving at Mr Jones because he was being a nuisance.

Mr Price said: "You lost your temper with that man and you just drove at him and deliberately knocked him down and drove over him."

Brooks replied: "I have never seen him before in my life. Why would I want to kill somebody I have never met?

"It was an accident. The only person I was concerned about was the young man on the crossing. I did not stop because I was frightened for myself and for him."

Brooks said he believed he had just clipped Mr Jones's arm or leg and said he felt terrible after his arrest when police officers told him the pedestrian was critically ill.

He said he did not believe he had driven over Mr Jones's body because he did not suffer any broken bones.

Brooks, of Hollingbury Terrace, Brighton, denies charges of attempted murder and assault causing grievous bodily harm. He has admitted dangerous driving.

Mr Jones was trying to flag down a taxi while standing on the crossing after spending the evening at a pub in July last year.

The trial continues.