The partner of a 53-year-old man who was allegedly run over in a revenge attack following a brawl outside a pub in Beccles has described him sounding scared in a telephone call shortly before he was injured.

In a statement read to a jury at Ipswich Crown Court the woman said that while she was on the phone to Julian Johnson she heard the sound of a car engine followed by someone shouting in an angry voice which worried her.

The car drove off but Mr Johnson asked her to stay on the phone. “I felt he was scared,” said the witness.

About ten minutes later she heard a car pulling up slowly next to Mr Johnson and heard the same angry voice as before shout: “Get off your f****** phone now”.

She heard his phone fall to the ground and was then unable to contact him again despite repeated attempts.

Before the court are Nathan Baker, 19, of Quay Street, Halesworth Daniel Hermon, 26, of Market Place, Southwold and Lewis Aldridge, 27, also of Market Place, Southwold.

All three have denied attempted murder and grievous bodily harm.

 It has been alleged that after Baker, was punched in the face and suffered a cut eye outside the The Kings Head Hotel in Beccles he and his co-defendants got in a car and ambushed Mr Johnson, who had acted as “peacemaker” during the fight.

Mr Johnson was walking home alone along London Road, Beccles on the phone to his girlfriend when he was found by the defendants.

They allegedly got out of the car and beat him before driving over him, possibly twice and then driving off, said prosecutor Edward Renvoize .

The court heard Mr Johnson suffered fractures to his pelvis, ribs and vertebrae and could not move when he was found by police at 3am.

The trial continues.