A man who denies murdering a grandfather by driving his car at a group of friends admitted to a court he did hit someone before fleeing like a ‘coward’.

The group were allegedly mowed down by father and son Martin and Shaun Breeze in a van in a  ‘revenge’ hit-and-run which resulted in 60-year-old Brian Darby being carried 150m on the bonnet of their van.

Mr Darby was killed and three other people, including a teenager, were seriously injured following the fatal incident in Ingleby Barwick in February, Teesside Crown Court heard this week.

Brian Darby.Brian Darby.

It came after a confrontation involving 29-year-old Shaun and a group leaving the 3 Rivers bar when Shaun rang his dad for help.

Giving evidence in his defence on Friday (July 19) Martin Breeze, 58, a former painter and decorator, admitted he hit someone in his van after losing control of his van but denied doing so deliberately.

Asked what he thought had happened by his barrister Peter Makepeace KC, Breeze Snr told the court: “I knew I had hit something. It might have been a person, I don’t know. As I drove around it sort of sunk in.

“It all happened that fast.

“To be honest, I hit someone, yeah.

The van at the scene of the incident.The van at the scene of the incident. (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

“I went off the road and thought I had caught the curb.

“I didn’t know anybody went under the van.”

He told a jury he acted “cowardly” and “ran away” afterwards, adding that he felt panic.

“I just s**t myself,” he said. “I just fled, I drove off.

“I couldn’t think straight, I just drove. I just wanted to get away from there.”

Police cordon in place.Police cordon in place. (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

He and his son Shaun then walked back to a home they were renting together on Owls Grove, the court heard.

When they got home, Martin told the court, they “stood there in shock, speechless” before taking pregabalin and zanox because they had no cocaine left.

The court was told Shaun then rang police claiming their van, which was uninsured and in the process of being repossessed, had been stolen. Asked why his son did that Martin said: “I didn’t realise how much trouble I was causing. I was trying to save my family really, it was stupid. I should never have involved Shaun.”

Asking if he drove into the group deliberately and whether he intended to kill someone he replied:

“No, I didn’t. Definitely not.”

He also denies intending to cause any serious harm.

“Do you accept that as a result of your driving a man has died and other people’s lives have been destroyed”, Mr Makepeace QC asked.

“Yes, of course”, Breeze replied.

It happened after Shaun rang his dad saying he was being chased. Martin then jumped in his van and headed to the scene. He told jurors his son sounded absolutely panicked and "scared witless" when they spoke.

Martin Breeze, 57, of Irthing Close, Ingleby Barwick has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges.

He denied the murder of Mr Darby, the manslaughter of Mr Darby, four charges of attempted murder, and four charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

Shaun Breeze, 29, of Owls Grove, Ingleby Barwick, has also pleaded not guilty to the same set of charges.

Recommended reading:

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Get access for 4 months for just £4, or get 40% off an annual subscription with our latest offer. Click here.

The father and son are also charged with an additional offence of perverting the course of justice, which they both deny, after reporting the van stolen to police.

The court heard that a “normal day” for the father and son included taking £300 of cocaine, £150 of ketamine and ten pregabalin.

The trial continues.