A ROW over a minor car crash led to a man being run over and dragged along a road in Blackbird Leys, a court heard.

Rohan Crooks, who appeared on Crimewatch before handing himself in to police in February, went on trial yesterday accused of attempting to murder Orville Francis, known as Dean, on October 9, 2008.

The 34-year-old defendant is also accused of wielding a knife outside “top shops” in Blackbird Leys Road minutes before the incident.

He admitted one count of dangerous driving but denies attempted murder, an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and having a bladed article.

Mr Francis, who was pushing his bike on the pavement in Cuddesdon Way, was dragged under Crooks’ green Lexus and suffered “life-threatening injuries” that required a three-week hospital stay, jurors heard.

Giving evidence, Mr Francis said Crooks, of Sturge Avenue, Walthamstow, approached him outside the shops at about 5.30pm after a friend of Mr Francis had earlier bumped into Crooks’ car.

Mr Francis said he told his friend, named as Murphy, to sort it out by paying Crooks for the damage or informing his insurance company.

He said he also agreed to meet Murphy at the shops and assumed Crooks would be there.

Mr Francis, who was with a friend named only as Liam and another called Steve Rainford, said Murphy did not show up but Crooks pulled up in his Lexus and squared up to him.

A scuffle ensued in which the defendant produced a large knife and tried to stab him, he told jurors.

He said: “He was (saying) ‘man, I kill you, I kill your family’.

“I said ‘brethren, if you kill someone for that, if you kill me you’re never going to live a peaceful life.

“‘This is England, not Jamaica where you can do nothing and get away with it’.”

Jurors heard Crooks then drove off and Mr Francis and his two friends made their way along Cuddesdon Way towards Field Avenue.

Mr Francis said: “Next me recall Steve behind me (saying) ‘Dean, Dean, Dean, look out, look out’.

“I think my man (Crooks) was going to come back with knife so put my bike and flung it to the side to spin round to see what’s going on.

“It’s like a split of a second. I saw this car was about right there (he gestured to a chair a metre away).

“I saw the car looking down and the bumper, I saw Kerissa (Lawrence, Crooks’ girlfriend at the time) in the car and that’s the only thing I can remember.”

Under cross-examination from defence barrister Jonathan Rose, Mr Francis denied the knife belonged to his friend Liam and denied he started the confrontation at the shops.

Asked why there was no mention of Murphy’s earlier car crash in his police statements, Mr Francis said: “The police didn’t ask me.”

The trial continues.