A man accused of attempted murder has said his co-defendant grabbed his steering wheel and drove the car they were in over a man.

Nathan Baker, 20, is accused of deliberately running over a 53-year-old man in a revenge attack following a brawl outside a pub.

He and his two co-defendants - Daniel Hermon and Lewis Aldridge – are on trial for the attempted murder of Julian Johnson, who was found with serious injuries in London Road in Beccles at about 3am on November 18 last year.

Giving evidence in his trial at Ipswich Crown Court, Baker said after they had all jumped out of his car and beaten Mr Johnson to the ground, they got back in and as he was driving off Hermon grabbed the wheel and steered the car over Mr Johnson.

However, Hermon claims he tried to turn the wheel away from Mr Johnson as Baker aimed to drive over him.

Baker also admitted his initial account to police involving a fictional friend called Benny was a lie and that he had tried to obstruct the investigation to protect himself from the consequences.

The court has previously heard Baker and Hermon got into a fight at the Wetherspoon pub, The Kings Head Hotel, and he and his co-defendants later ambushed Mr Johnson who had earlier acted as peacemaker.

Baker received a cut to his eye but he told court it was Hermon who wanted revenge after the fight and planned to do serious violence - not him.

He said following the fight, Hermon had been extremely angry and he felt he had to obey Hermon’s orders to go to Southwold and collect Aldridge then drive back to the pub.

Baker told the court he was unaware of what Hermon intended the three of them to do and unaware Hermon had told Aldridge to bring a knife.

Prosecutor Edward Renvoize noted that although he was seemingly unaware of violent plans, he had later got out of the car in search of those they had fought with.

Mr Johnson suffered fractures to his pelvis, ribs and vertebrae and could not move when he was found by police at 3am.

Baker is expected to continue giving evidence on Thursday.