A drug-taking clubber who drove into a crowded night spot after he was thrown out has claimed he had no intention of killing anybody.

Mohammed Abdul admitted the way he drove into a packed Blake's nightclub in Gravesend last year was "very dangerous" but said his only intention was to get away from bouncers who were chasing after him.

The 21-year-old admitted he had earlier told one doorman: “I am shutting you down.”

Mohammed Abdul drives his Suzuki Vitara into Blake's nightclub

He also admitted he drove up to the bouncers to “give them a bit of grief”.

A retrial at Maidstone Crown Court has heard about 10 minutes after being ejected from Blake’s in Queen Street, Gravesend, on March 17 last year, he started to drive his Suzuki Vitara down an alleyway at the side of the club.

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

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.

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.

“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.

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

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."

Giving evidence, Nairobi-born Abdul he was a regular cannabis user and had smoked about five joints at a friend’s home before going to the club to see grime rapper Giggs. He had also drunk about five vodka and cokes.

“I didn’t feel completely intoxicated by it but I was tipsy,” he told the jury.

He had not been to the club before and he and his friend arrived early at about 8.30pm. They went into the marquee at about 9.30pm and had a couple of shots, before going into the main building.

In total, he thought he had drunk 10-15 glass of alcohol, as well as Tequila shots. He described it as “excessive”.

Abdul claimed he was not given an explanation for being removed from the club at about 11.30pm. “I was told ‘Just go’,” he continued. “I started to reason with him.”

Outside, he said, a bouncer pushed him to the ground. He said he told bouncers “I am shutting you down” because he was frustrated.

“I got up and dusted myself off,” he said. “I was frustrated. I went to the car and went back to the club. I thought I was dealt with unfairly.

“I was going to give the bouncers a bit of grief. When I pulled up in my car I was giving them grief.”

He claimed one bouncer threatened to drag him out of the car if he did not go. He replied: “I dare you.”

When I pulled up in my car I was giving them grief...”- Mohammed Abdul

Abdul then turned his car into the alleyway leading to the marquee. It was not his intention, he said, to injure anybody. It was, he said, to give bouncers grief – “give them a bit of a fright really”.

A doorman opened one of his doors and he realised they were unlocked. He drove forward intending to get past door staff.

Asked if he was intending to kill anybody, he replied: “Absolutely not.”

Asked by Danny Moore, defending, why he then drove through gates to the marquee, he said: “My recollection is I needed to build up momentum to get through the gate. I sped up to get through that gate.

“I didn’t try to hit them. I thought there was a risk I might hit them. I heard people shouting warnings.

“I believed there was some sort of exit or access where I could get away from the situation. However, upon arriving at the marquee I realised this was a deadend.

“Ten to 20 bouncers were coming up behind me. They surrounded the vehicle. They are screaming abuse. As this was happening I drove forward.

“I would be lying if I said I didn’t know people were in the marquee, but my attention was drawn to the hostile atmosphere around me. I immediately braked.

“I panicked. In that moment I am really panicking and I tried to get out of it. My intention was not to hurt anybody. I reversed up. I gave up.”

Abdul said he was dragged out of the car and attacked and left unconscious.

He added: “I am very remorseful. The way I drove was very dangerous. It is ridiculous. I didn’t consider people’s safety around me. I was just selfish.”

Mr Moore said: “It is suggested you wanted to kill people that night.”

Abdul answered: “Absolutely not.”

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.

He admits two offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The trial continues.