A barman who was "almost blind with rage" drove his car at a group of men causing one "enduring brain damage" after a fight in a Mill End kebab shop, a court heard.

Nathan Rutter, 20, had been knocked to the ground in a row with four men from Aberdeen, who he accused of staring at his girlfriend.

He is alleged to have driven his black Astra, with loud music playing, up the wrong side of Uxbridge Road in Rickmansworth before mounting the pavement.

The car clipped one man, before striking Michael Robb who hit the windscreen. He suffered bleeding to the brain and a fractured skull. Pressure built up on his brain and he suffered blood clots, which had to be relieved by a craniotomy, St Albans crown court heard today.

Mr Robb and his friends had travelled down to watch the football match between Watford and Leeds on May 4. They had been drinking in Watford town centre before going on to a bar in Rickmansworth.

Prosecutor Michael Speak said Mr Robb can remember nothing about what happened after playing pool in Rickmansworth. He said he was first treated in hospital at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington for a week before being transferred to hospital in Aberdeen.

A report on his condition in July said he was receiving help at a specialist centre for slurred speech and was given therapy to help him walk and build his strength. He has suffered memory problems, his spelling has deteriorated and he has lost 70 per cent of the hearing in his right ear.

The prosecutor told the jury of eight men and four women the collision happened near a bus shelter on the A412 Uxbridge Road just after midnight on May 5.

"Michael Robb was with three friends when Mr Rutter drove his car, entirely deliberately, into this group of people. He hit Mr Robb squarely and that resulted in him sustaining brain injuries which have had an enduring effect on him.

"The defendant had driven his car on the wrong side of the road and up on to the pavement. It was his intention to drive his vehicle at those people," said Mr Speak.

Just before the collision, Rutter and his girlfriend had been in the nearby Kebab Centre where "fisticuffs" broke out with Mr Robb's group. Nobody was hurt, but Rutter, who had accused them of staring at his girlfriend, was knocked to the ground. Mr Robb and his friends walked off along Uxbridge Road.

Mr Speak went on: "For them the whole business was over. However as far as the defendant was concerned the incident was far from over. He was clearly almost blind with rage. He jumped in his car and drove up the road at those people at a speed in excess of 30 miles per hour, but less than 40. He drove straight at them.

"Mr Robb went on to the bonnet of the car. His head hit the windscreen with some considerable force."

It was alleged Rutter, who was shirtless, drove his black Astra on the pavement for 32 metres, striking Mr Robb opposite Country House Antiques. A woman was heard to swear at the group.

Rutter, of Longlees, Maple Cross, pleads not guilty to the attempted murder of Michael Robb and an alternative charged of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The jury was told he has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He told the police he did not intend to hurt anybody and that Mr Robb stumbled in front of his car. He said in the kebab house the four had been staring at his girlfriend when trouble broke out. It was broken up by the shop workers.

Rutter said it was his intention only to scare the group.

The case continues.