A scooter rider who suffered serious leg injuries after a BMW was allegedly driven into him in Watford told a jury that there was "bad feeling" between him and the driver.

Jamie Clarke said John Boyle-Matcham was not an enemy, but there had been an issue between them over a girl.

He told a jury at St Albans crown court: "I have known him from around the area for many years.

"There was a little issue between us over a girl from many years ago. I was with a girl and we split up or were on the way to splitting up. He got in there and I told him to back off. Ever since then we have stared each other out."

Mr Clarke, who is in his 20s, said that on the morning of Bank Holiday Monday August 28 last year he was riding his scooter when he saw John Boyle-Matcham on a push bike.

He was on St Albans Road, Watford and was about to turn right into Garston Lane. "There are traffic lights. I was waiting at the lights on my moped.

"He came from the right. He was with Ryan Mason. They were riding push bikes towards me.

"He threw his bike down and waved his arms round. I couldn't hear what he said.

"He didn't look to happy. He was quite angry. I didn't know what he was angry about."

At just before 6pm that night the jury heard that John Boyle-Matcham was driving his father's black BMW when it hit Mr Clarke's silver and grey Gilera Runner 125 scooter in North Approach Road.

Today another driver Deborah Graham told the court she saw the car veer to the right. "I said to myself they are going to crash. The car just hit the moped driver straight bang on.

"I saw the moped and the driver fly in the air. It was slow motion, like a movie, and they landed on the grass verge."

She turned her car around and parked up. "Neighbours had come out. I got my phone out of my bag. I was shaking and I phoned 999.

"It looked like his legs had been severed. His trousers looked like they had been pulled down. A leg or both legs were not in a good position.

"I initially thought they had come away from his body. It was like a war movie. When I got closer it was not as severe as I first thought. There was a lot of muscle and bone showing," she said.

John Boyle-Matcham, 23, of St Albans Road, Watford, denies attempted murder and an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent on Monday 28 August 2017.

The jury of 6 men and 6 women have been told he has pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutor Max Hardy said the collision happened when Jamie Clarke was riding in north easterly direction on North Approach Road and John Boyle-Matcham was heading alone in the opposite direction on the two lane road. The weather was fine and it was daylight, he said.

CCTV footage from a camera at the Imam Hussein Foundation was played to the jury which showed the BMW striking the scooter and sending Mr Clarke in the air.

Mr Hardy said: "The prosecution say the BMW car was used in an attempt to kill a young man.

"He was very seriously injured and was taken by helicopter to St George's hospital in Tooting where he was an in-patient for 2 months. He had multiple bouts of surgery and spent two weeks of intensive care."

Mr Hardy went on: "John Boyle-Matcham manoeuvred the BMW into the oncoming lane. He was trying to hit Jamie Clark.

"After the collision, he braked before driving off. He did not get out and go to Jamie Clarke's aid. He said he stopped in panic and drove off not knowing what to do. He did not go to his aid or telephone for an ambulance.

"He drove the damaged black BMW to a lay-by and then on foot walked to a van which travelled back to the scene of the collision. It was to establish what was going on."

Mr Clarke was conscious and told the police who was driving the car. It was later found abandoned in a cul-de-sac in Falcon Way with serious damage to the front offside.

In the witness box Mr Clarke said he had left a friend's house in Harris Road and was riding along North Approach to go to Boundary Way, where other friends live.

He said: "I was probably doing 30 to 35 max. I don't remember seeing any other vehicles. There was a car ahead of me. There was one car ahead of me it was white or creamy. "

He said he recognised John Boyle-Matcham's car as it came towards him. He said: "All of a sudden it swerved into my lane and came towards me. There was not much I could do.

"It came towards me. It hit me. It was all a blur from there."

The trial is ongoing.