A company director told a jury he thought he was going to die when a car drove

deliberately at him and he was thrown over the bonnet.

Dennis Rose, who runs a coach company, fell to the road, seriously injuring his ankle.

The driver Irfan Ali, 24, of Farnham Close, Broadfield, Crawley, denies charges of causing grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving at a trial at Hove Crown Court.

The jury heard the confrontation took place in Gossops Green, Crawley, shortly after midnight on May 19 last year as Mr Rose was driving his business partner Audrey Cullinane home in his red Jaguar.

Mr Rose told the court he noticed a Rover, driven by Ali, behind him in Ifield Drive flashing its lights and travelling close to his rear bumper.

He became concerned about the erratic way the other car was being driven and feared he was being followed.

He stopped in Gossops Drive because he wanted to find out what was going on.

Mr Rose said he approached the other vehicle and Ali opened his door and asked: "What is your problem man?".

He said Ali swore at him before driving off in reverse.

Mr Rose said he was trapped by the open door and was forced to grab hold of it to stop himself being dragged under the wheels of the Rover.

He said: "I was clinging on to the door for fear of getting dragged under the car.

"I managed to roll myself along and sort of free myself. By this time I was stood in the middle of the road.

"I could not believe what had gone on.

"A split second later he accelerated forward. He was driving straight at me.

"He hit me and I went up over the bonnet and my feet left the ground.

"I thought I was going to die."

Sarah Lindop, defending Ali, suggested the defendant flashed his lights at Mr Rose because the Jaguar was being driven with the fog light illuminated, which was distracting to other drivers.

Mr Rose said he was unaware the fog light was on.

She put it to him he was in an aggressive and angry mood and had grabbed hold of Ali by his clothes and attempted to pull him out of the car before making racist insults.

Mr Rose denied the accusations.

The trial continues.