A Bradford caretaker has been accused of deliberately ramming a young cyclist with a car in a fit of temper after he spotted the boy trespassing on school grounds.

John Passman, 47, is alleged to have driven at the 12-year-old boy at Thornton Grammar School last August.

The youngster, now 13, told a jury at Bradford Crown Court he was leaving the school grounds after practice in the cricket nets when he heard a shout from his uncle, riding behind him.

"I heard the screech of some tyres and saw a red Fiesta coming down the hill,'' he said. "I sort of hit the Fiesta and fell off my bike.

"The car came over the banking and drove down the banking and went head on into me. I fell off the bike and just sort of hit the front of the bonnet.''

Although he did not receive any medical treatment, the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he was crying after the collision and suffered pain and bruising to his chest.

Passman, who lives at the school and has been working there for more than two years, has pleaded not guilty to assaulting the boy.

Prosecutor Phillip Lancaster told the jury that it was clear that Passman did not believe anyone had authority to use the cricket nets that evening and thought the people there were trespassing.

"Because he believed the people were trespassing the prosecution allege it seems he lost his temper,'' he said.

The boy's uncle described how he heard a screech of wheels and shouted at his nephew because he thought he might ride out on to the driveway.

But giving evidence Passman denied losing his temper and deliberately driving at the boy.

He said he only decided to drive over in the car when he saw the boy, his uncle and another teenager, heading towards the school buildings.

He claimed that he had stopped the car at the top of the banking intending to have a word with the youngster.

Passman said the boy had been riding so quickly up the banking that the youngster couldn't stop and his bicycle clipped the car.

He claimed the boy did not fall off his bike and was not even crying.

The trial is expected to end today.

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