THE actions of a driver who hit and ran over a man, seriously injuring him in a McDonald's restaurant car park, were not justified, a jury has been told.

During a trial at Bolton Crown Court, the jury has been told how 21-year-old Elliott Barnes felt threatened by a group of Asian men as he tried to drive away from the fast food restaurant car park at Derby Street, Bolton, on July 4 2014.

Without stopping, he struck and ran over 34-year-old Suhail Mohmed, leaving him with multiple fractures, including a fractured neck and spine.

Barnes, of Chester Street, Manchester, was later arrested following a police appeal in The Bolton News and denies causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The prosecution claim that Mr Mohmed was a passenger in a Mercedes car being driven by Noor-Mohammed Bagas, which parked near Barnes' VW Polo shortly before midnight.

Barnes and his two female passengers, Lauren Houghton and Robyn Green had been into the restaurant to buy food and Miss Houghton claimed in court that remarks had been made towards them by a group of Asian youths sat at table, which led to a verbal alteration.

But Sarah Johnston, prosecuting, said that after they returned to their car, Mr Bagas heard racist comments coming from the occupants of Barnes' car which angered him.

Giving evidence, Mr Bagas accepted that he got out his own car and approached Barnes' vehicle as it reversed out of a parking space, wanting the driver to get out.

Barnes claimed that his door was opened and his arm grabbed, with several men surrounding the car, but witness accounts vary as to whether the door was opened and about the number of people near the car.

He later told police he thought Mr Mohmed, who was at the front of the car, would get out of the way as he drove forward, but he did not and Barnes drove over him without stopping.

"A careful and considerate driver would not accelerate pretty much as hard as they could when a man was in front of their vehicle," said Miss Johnston.

She stressed that Barnes had not tried sounding his horn, shouting or calling the police — actions which he could have taken if he had felt threatened.

But, summing up the defence case, Michelle Brown said that the incident had lasted such a short time that Barnes did not have time to think through different options.

"This was a young man with two female passengers and he came to the general conclusion that his passengers and him were in jeopardy," she said.

Evidence in the case has been completed and the jury are expected to retire and consider their verdict on Tuesday next week.