THE MAN accused of deliberately mowing down a group of young men in his BMW on the seafront was previously jailed for a similar offence, a court heard.

Iftekhar Khondaker is on trial for the murder of Suel Delgado and the attempted murder of Azaan Khan and Raja Zakir Khan in Brighton.

The 34-year-old had been out at The Arch nightclub with his younger brother Irfan Khondaker and Umesh Ravinthan.

But they clashed with Mr Delgado and his friends from Crawley who were out to celebrate the birthday of pal Amaan Alyas.

After scuffles and fights along the seafront, Khondaker’s BMW SUV vehicle hit the three men in Marine Parade at speeds of up to 41mph.

Suel Delgado died in hospital the next day, he was aged 20, while the other men each suffered life-changing injuries.

The Argus: Suel Delgado was killed in the alleged hit and run in Marine Parade, BrightonSuel Delgado was killed in the alleged hit and run in Marine Parade, Brighton

Hove Crown Court heard how the car engine was heard revving as it “accelerated” into them.

Mr Alyas, who was feet away from the impact, said the men were “deliberately” targeted by Khondaker. The defendant is accused of veering onto the wrong side of the road to hit the men.

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Khondaker wore a white shirt and black trousers as he gave evidence in his defence to the jury. He claimed the horror crash was an accident, and that he had not seen the group of men.

The Argus: The vehicle driven by Iftekhar Khondaker that led to the death of Suel Delgado in Brighton. Khondaker denies driving at a group of men deliberately in order to kill themThe vehicle driven by Iftekhar Khondaker that led to the death of Suel Delgado in Brighton. Khondaker denies driving at a group of men deliberately in order to kill them

His barrister Tyrone Gregory Smith asked him about the incident which took place at 5.30am on December 1, 2019.

“Were you in the car that collided with Suel Delgado?” The barrister asked.

“Yes sir,” Khondaker replied.

“Did you deliberately hit him?” Mr Gregory Smith asked.

“No, sir,” Khondaker replied.

“Did you intend to kill him?”

“No, sir,” was the reply.

The Argus: The scene in Marine Parade, Brighton as police begin a murder inquiry, Operation DanebridgeThe scene in Marine Parade, Brighton as police begin a murder inquiry, Operation Danebridge

Khondaker admitted he had earlier got so drunk that he nodded off in the nightclub after drinking spirits, but drove the car when "panic set in" over the incident and he realised his face was bleeding.

He said he just wanted to get out of the area as fast as possible, and claimed he did not see Suel Delgado or his friends in the road.

But Mr Gregory Smith revealed Khondaker, of Caithness Road, Mitcham, had a previous conviction for inflicting grievous bodily harm, for which he was jailed in 2014.

It involved him driving a car at a person and causing them injuries including a broken ankle.

Khondaker denies murder and two counts of attempted murder, his brother Irfan, 27, denies assisting an offender.