A CARPENTER knocked down by a Honda Jazz the day before New Year’s Eve feared he would die a stone’s throw from Liden Tesco.

Prosecutors claim that Lee Goodchild was behind the wheel of the bright orange Honda that hit tradesman Brian Foreman shortly after 2am on December 30.

It is said Goodchild injured another man in a similar way in the car park of the Spotted Cow pub on the night of April 19.

Goodchild, 38, formerly of The Crescent, Chiseldon, denies two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Yesterday, victim Mr Foreman, 37, told jurors he was certain it was former schoolmate Goodchild driving the car that hit him in the Liden village centre car park.

“I have never been so sure about anything in my life,” he said.

“I thought I was going to die that night. I’m lucky to still be here – albeit disabled for the rest of my life.”

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Liden village centre Picture: GOOGLE

Opening the case, prosecutor Hannah Squire claimed Goodchild had got into his leased Honda Jazz after arguing with Mr Foreman and friend Christopher Poole over an iPad he claimed was in the latter’s flat. Goodchild was said to owe Mr Poole £20.

He drove the Honda directly at Mr Foreman, Ms Squire said, breaking the man’s leg in several places and leaving the bone sticking out of his skin. When police photographed the scene the next day a pool of blood was clearly visible.

The damaged car was later discovered abandoned in Swindon. Fragments of the car’s paint were found on Mr Foreman’s jeans.

Arrested by the police in early January, Goodchild answered no comment.

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Swindon Crown Court, where Lee Goodchild is currently on trial

On April 19, it is said Goodchild was behind the wheel of a VW Golf when it reversed at speed into Bradley Atkinson in the car park of the Spotted Cow pub, a well-known drug dealing spot.

Mr Atkinson saw Goodchild apparently speaking angrily to another man. Goodchild got in his car and Mr Atkinson went to speak to the other man. It was then, Ms Squire claimed, that Goodchild had reversed at Mr Atkinson.

“He had no chance to move out of the way and the car slammed into him,” she said. Mr Atkinson’s leg was crushed.

“A car used in this manner is a deadly weapon and the defendant, by his actions deliberately driving his car at those men intended and did cause them really serious injury.”

Goodchild denies being behind the wheel.

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The Spotted Cow pub Picture: GOOGLE

Cross examining Mr Foreman, Alex Daymond, defending, claimed the man had argued with Goodchild earlier that night as he returned from picking up friend Christopher Poole. In the car park, it was said Mr Foreman had threatened Goodchild with a metal object and had scratched the defendant’s car. Mr Foreman denied this.

Put in the witness stand on Monday afternoon, Bradley Atkinson, 42, the victim of the April assault, told jurors he believed Goodchild had intended to do harm: “That was deliberate driving into someone.”

He showed the jury his shattered left leg, which surgeons had attempted to put back together by using muscle and blood vessels from other parts of his body. Mr Atkinson was in hospital for two-and-a-half months.

Goodchild is understood to admit driving the white VW Golf that hit Mr Atkinson, but claims the injury was accidental and he feared he was going to be attacked by another man in the Spotted Cow car park at the time.

The trial continues.