A motorist accused of repeatedly trying to run down a non-league footballer in a road rage row claimed today he came under attack.

He told a jury: "I didn't want to fight."

Aaron Mullis, 25, allegedly drove at 30 year-old Maidstone United defender Mario McNish three times in his Ford Mondeo after a punch-up at traffic lights.

CCTV cameras recorded the incident on Sydenham High Road in Kent at around 11pm on October 17 last year.

The row started when McNish, who was returning from training in his Mercedes, had beeped his horn at Mullis when the traffic lights turned green, it is claimed.

But Mullis told the Old Bailey the lights were red and he could not understand what McNish's problem was.

When he got out to check the back of his car he saw the motorist ranting and wanted to know what was going on.

"If it was green, I would have driven away," he told the court.

"I thought he was trying to attract my attention to something wrong and that's why I got out.

"I could see him shouting and still couldn't work out what he was shouting about. I knew the light was red and I hadn't done anything.

"He was swearing. It didn't make much sense."

Mullis said he was about to head back to his car when he saw his passenger, a friend called Damian, getting out as well.

"McNish jumped out the car and there was an argument between him and Damian. I was trying to diffuse everything.

"McNish was shouting and getting violent. I just see something flare up and the violence started."

He said he saw something shiny in McNish's hand and thought it was a weapon.

"I didn't want to fight. I was doing my best," he continued.

"I wasn't aggressive, I was trying to stop it."

Mr McNish punched Mullis in the face fracturing his jaw in three places, the court has heard.

Mullis is then accused of getting back in his car and reversing in to Mr McNish's Mercedes.

But he told the court: "I was trying to open the driver's window and kept pressing the wrong button.

"I was panicking, I was trying to open the back windows. The car was going forward and I crashed in to his car. I bumped in to it. I might have pressed the wrong pedal."

Mullis claims he then tried to stop McNish attacking his friend by driving between them.

Once his friend was back in the car, he said he drove on the pavement to get away because the road was blocked.

"I drove down the pavement until I could get in to the road and drove in to the road and drove off," he said

"I just remember driving round the bus stop.

"I was in a lot of pain, I couldn't move the right side of my face properly.

"I just wanted to get away from the area and stop getting attacked from the man again.

"I wouldn't say I was fast, I just wanted the first way out."

Asked if he had tried to kill McNish, he said: "No I did not."

Asked again if he had tried to hurt or harm anyone on the night, he replied: "No, not at all."

He denied he had been drunk and become angry when McNish beeped his horn at him.

McNish played for Maidstone at the time of the incident but has since left the club. He also played for Brentford in west London and Fisher Athletic in south London.

Mullis, of Ravensbourne Road, Catford, southeast London, denies attempted murder, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving.

The trial continues.