A driver alleged to have driven his car into another young man on a scooter in an attempt to kill him, told a court he had never meant to hit him.

John Boyle-Matcham told a jury on Thursday he had only intended to scare Jamie Clarke by steering his BMW towards him.

He told St Albans crown court: “I wanted to scare him. It was a split second foolish thing to do maybe with the intent to make him fall off at worst or slam his brakes on, but I never intended to hit him.”

Mr Clarke who is in his 20s suffered serious injuries in the collision which happened in North Approach Road, Watford on Monday, August 28 last year.

The jury of six men and six women have been told one woman motorist who saw what happened pulled up and dialled 999.

Today when he went into the witness box Mr Boyle-Matcham told the court: “I just feel so sorry for Jamie for what I have put him through, for what I have put his family through, for what I have put my family through.

“It’s probably the worst mistake I have ever made in my life and I’m just sorry.”

Mr Boyle-Matcham, 23, of St Albans Road, Watford denies attempted murder and an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

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

Earlier Mr Clarke who lives in Watford told the court there was "bad feeling" between him and the defendant.

Jamie Clarke said Mr Boyle-Matcham wasn’t an enemy, but there had been an issue between them over a girl.

He told thecourt: "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."

The jury has been told how shortly before 6pm Mr Clarke was riding his Gilera Runner 125 scooter on North Approach Road in Watford and John Boyle-Matcham was heading in the opposite direction in his father’s black BMW.

Just a few hours before there had been an incident in the area involving the pair at a set of traffic light.

Max Hardy prosecuting said that evening CCTV footage from camera at the Imam Hussein Foundation caught the moment the BMW struck the scooter, 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.

The court has heard after the collision the defendant didn’t try to help the injured Mr Clarke but made off in the car.

Later that evening it’s alleged the defendant dialled 999 and told the police that the bike had pulled out at him and he had panicked.

He was arrested and tested negative for drink and drugs.

Giving evidence Mr Boyle-Matcham told the court he had been in a state of shock after collision and he had been scared.

He said that was the reason he hadn’t got out of his car to go to Mr Clarke’s aid.

He said he had driven the damaged BMW to a road near Garston Park where he wanted to go and think

He denied there was a “feud” between them and said that evening he had been on his way to some nearby shops hoping to see Jamie Clarke and make sure there was no ill feeling between them.

Mr Boyle-Matcham said he hadn’t expected to see Mr Clarke on his scooter in North Approach Road and when he did he decided in a split second that he would give him a scare by steering towards him.

Earlier motorist Deborah Graham told the court she saw the car veer to the right. "I said to myself f... 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.

Case proceeding.