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Mohammed Abdul's trial begins after car crashed into Gravesend nightclub Blake's

By: Keith Hunt

Published: 12:21, 07 January 2019

Updated: 14:12, 07 January 2019

An angry clubber drove into a night spot, causing serious injury, after he was ejected for being drunk, a court heard.

Mohammed Abdul had allegedly warned one of the door staff: "I am going to shut you down tonight".

About 10 minutes later on March 17 last year, the 21-year-old started to drive his Suzuki Vitara down an alleyway at the side of Blake’s in Queen Street, Gravesend, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

CCTV of the incident was shown in court

A bouncer tried to stop him, but he continued as staff and customers jumped out of the way.

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Prosecutor Simon Taylor said as Abdul approached a marquee being used as part of the club with a dance floor and DJ booth, he stopped for about nine seconds, “no doubt to make a final decision about what he was going to do”, before driving into it at considerable speed, hitting several people.

“He travelled for a distance of around five to 10 metres and gave the customers and staff, who were in his way, no time to react at all,” he told the jury of 10 men and two women.

“Some of the occupants of the marquee were hit by the car and thrown onto the bonnet and then onto the floor.”

Abdul, 21, reversed several metres and was then overpowered by door staff and customers, leaving him injured.

He was abusive and uncooperative when arrested.

"In reality, the defendant could have had no other intention whatsoever..." - prosecutor Simon Taylor

Mr Taylor said the conduct involved Abdul "using his car as a weapon by deliberately driving at a large group of people who were trying to enjoy a night out in Blake’s nightclub”.

He continued: "The manner in which the defendant drove was not short in either duration or distance. It was a determined and indiscriminate effort to cause death to those people present.

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“Mercifully - and no thanks to the defendant - death was not caused, but serious injury was.”

Pierre Joseph, a cameraman who was at the club to film grime rapper Giggs, suffered a fractured left shinbone.

Clubber Katie Wells was left with a fractured pelvis.

Blake's nightclub in Queen Street, Gravesend

Mr Taylor said CCTV footage of the incident spoke "volumes that the defendant intended to kill when he drove in the manner he did".

"The Crown's case is the intent to kill here is obvious. Why else deliberately drive at speed into a group of defenseless people offering no threat at all?

"In reality, the defendant could have had no other intention whatsoever."

Mr Taylor told jurors: "This case has been investigated and the Crown make it clear there is no terrorist element to the defendant's action. The motivation was revenge and anger at being ejected from the club."

CCTV of Abdul being ejected from the club and then going to his car and driving into the marquee was shown in court.

Doorman Peter Muro told police when Abdul was ejected from the club, he threatened: “If I can’t come in I’m going to come back and shut this place down and kill you guys.”

He said as Abdul drove into the alley he shouted: “I told you I’d be back.”

Abdul, of McMillan Street, Deptford, south east London, denies two charges of attempting to murder people in the vicinity of the club.

He also denies an alternative charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and two of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Joseph and Miss Wells.

The trial continues.

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