Angry driver 'ran over man when his wing mirror was snapped off'

An angry pizza delivery driver ran over a young man and dragged him along a pavement after his car’s wing mirror was snapped off, a court has heard.

Uran Nabiev, 63, had been at home drinking vodka as John Ambler drunkenly punched out at his parked Toyota Prius in the early hours of 19 October, jurors were told. He was walking with Jake Kemp, a 26-year-old air conditioning engineer.

Nabiev is alleged to have responded by taking “the law into his own hands with tragic consequences”, and got into his car and driven at the two men, the Old Bailey was told.

Kemp was hit after he stumbled and fell, and was dragged nine metres down the pavement after Nabiev hit him, the court heard.

Jurors were shown CCTV footage from that morning, when Nabiev is alleged to have driven up behind the two men, revved his engine and mounted the pavement in Bexley Road, Erith, south-east London.

Ambler, 33, a delivery driver, was hit in the arm and Kemp ran off but was pursued by Nabiev, jurors heard.

Kemp stumbled and fell and Nabiev reversed, mounted the opposite pavement, and drove straight over him, the court was told.

Prosecuting, Anthony Orchard QC said Nabiev has “used his car as a weapon” and added: “Jake had no chance. He ran and fell.

“Despite a clear time gap, the defendant made no attempt to brake. The Toyota was accelerating. It dragged the prone Jake Kemp for about nine metres before driving off.

“No attempt was made to stop. The defendant knew exactly what he was doing when he drove at both these men as they walked on Bexley Road. They stood no chance.”

Kemp ended up face-down in a pool of blood. He died in hospital three days later after suffering a serious head injury.

The court heard that Nabiev drove to a friend’s house, “shaking, panicking and slurring his words”, and allegedly said: “Thief, thief. They broke the car.”

Nabiev travelled to his native Azerbaijan but was arrested when he returned to the UK in November.

Opening the murder trial on Wednesday, Orchard said: “Instead of ringing the police to report his wing mirror damage, he took the law into his own hands with tragic consequences.”

The court heard that after his arrest, Nabiev told police he was “extremely sorry” for Kemp’s death.

In a prepared statement, he said he “did not intend to harm anyone or to cause them serious harm”, and he denies the murder of Kemp and the attempted murder of Ambler, who both come from Barnehurst, south-east London.

He also denies lesser alternative charges of manslaughter and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The trial continues.