A LORRY driver accused of mowing down a young dad during a road rage row told a jury he was "mortified" when he discovered he had hit someone.

Brian Southgate, 52, of Daffodil Close, Haslingden, said he believed the father-of-three had already got back in his car when he started the engine of his fifteen-and-a-half tonne truck and began to move off after an argument.

He told Manchester Crown Court: "I felt a bump and stopped straight away. I got out, ran round and then saw him on the floor. I was mortified.

"I felt absolutely devastated by what happened. I had never intended to knock anyone over and I never intended to injure anyone."

Southgate was giving evidence at the trial in which he denies charges of attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving.

The Crown allege that Southgate, deliberately drove at the victim, Gary Steven, 32, following the road rage bust up outside a primary school, on April 11 this year, where Mr Steven was waiting to pick up his children.

It is alleged he used the lorry as a weapon when he "became overpowered by murderous intent" after losing his self-control because of the number of cars parked outside Heap Bridge School, Heywood.

The jury had been told that Southgate drove at Mr Steven who had challenged him because of the way he was swearing and gesturing. As a result, the victim spent nine weeks in hospital for treatment to fractures of his pelvis and hip and has been left with one leg shorter than the other.

But in evidence, Southgate said he had no reason to be angry even though he was unable to get through the traffic because another lorry was coming in the opposite direction.

He said he guided the other driver backwards until there was a gap for him to go through and then was involved in a row with a woman parked outside the school.

He then got back into his cab only for Mr Steven to "yank" open the door and threaten to "rip" his head off.

He said: "I didn't want to get involved. I just wanted to get out of the way and I closed the door.

"He walked across the front of the vehicle and I started the engine. I checked the mirrors and he wasn't in my sight. I presumed he had got back in his car and I set off almost immediately felt a bump."

Southgate said he when get out of his cab he was surrounded by "an angry mob of women" but eventually got back in the truck and minutes later the police arrived.

He added: "I was terrified by what had happened. I was shaking and I was frightened.."

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