A BMW driver who caused a scooter rider serious leg injuries when he crashed into him was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent on Thursday.

John Boyle-Matcham, 23, steered his father's black BMW car into Jamie Clarke in Watford, sending him flying in the air.

A witness who saw Jamie lying on the verge thought his legs had been severed, St Albans crown court was told.

In the witness box, Jamie Clark told the jury there had been "bad feeling" between him and John Boyle-Matcham over a girl.

He said: "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 early 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 on St Albans Road, Watford.

He said the defendant was quite angry and was waving his arms about. As he was wearing a helmet, he could not hear what he was saying.

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

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

After eight hours and 48 minutes of deliberations, the jury of six men and six women found him not guilty of murder. They convicted him of causing grievous bodily harm with intent by a majority of 10 to two. He had pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutor Max Hardy played the jury CCTV footage of the impact, which was taken from cameras at the Imam Hussein Foundation.

He said Mr Clarke 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 Clarke.

"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."

At 11 minutes past eight that evening John Boyle-Matcham dialled 999 and told the police that the bike had pulled out at him and he had panicked.

Boyle-Matcham told the jury: "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.”

He said: "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.”

Judge Marie Catterson adjourned sentence for probation and psychiatric reports.

Boyle-Matcham will be sentenced not before June 25.

She said he faces a "lengthy custodial sentence" and remanded him in custody.

The judge said: "What concerns the court is the risk he may pose in future. It is the disproportion between what he did and the trigger for it."

She said she wanted an update on the Mr Clarke's physical and medical condition before the sentencing hearing.