by Keith Hunt

A bus driver drove over a man and killed him after he stepped into the road to complain about damage caused to his truck, a court heard.

Martin Barlow was dragged for 435 metres under Christopher Eggleton's six-and-a-half tonne Arriva bus before being thrown into the road on April 3 last year.

The 30-year-old victim died from multiple "crushing" injuries, including fractures to his skull, spine and ribs and massive internal damage.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Eggleton, 45, drove off and when he arrived at the Gillingham depot told colleagues he thought he had killed someone.

Richard Barraclough QC, prosecuting, said Eggleton went to his inspector's home and dialled 999.

Mr Barraclough said: "He said to the police operator he thought he had done wrong big style."

The jury was told Mr Barlow, who was three times over the legal drink-drive limit at the time, was angry that his "pride and joy" black Mitsubishi Trojan pick-up truck had been damaged by an Arriva bus outside his home in Catherine Sreet, Rochester.

Eggleton, of Dale Street, Chatham, denies manslaughter and causing death by dangerous driving. He admits causing death by careless driving.

The trial continues.