A businessman who ran down a drunken pedestrian on a zebra crossing has been jailed for seven years.

Gary Brooks was cleared by a jury at Hove Crown Court of attempting to murder Sean Jones, who suffered critical injuries and brain damage.

But the jury convicted him by a majority verdict of 11 to one of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a five-day trial.

Brooks, 33, of Hollingbury Terrace, Brighton, who had no insurance and had never passed a driving test, admitted driving dangerously after the impact in Portland Road, Hove, in July last year.

He was disqualified for ten years and ordered to take an extended driving test.

Judge Anthony Scott-Gall told Brooks he was a complete menace on the road.

The jury heard how Mr Jones, 33, from Portslade, was trying to flag down a taxi while standing on the crossing after spending the evening at The Portland pub.

Brooks, a father-of-four, was seen to stop at the crossing.

But the court heard how bystanders screamed as they saw his Audi accelerate forward and knock down Mr Jones before running him over.

The judge said: "This was a dreadful example of somebody using a large, powerful car as a weapon to cause serious bodily harm to an innocent member of the public.

"I regard you, as far as driving is concerned, as a complete menace."

During the trial, Brooks denied deliberately driving at Mr Jones and told the court he accidentally collided with him as he manoeuvred past.

He said Mr Jones had been crawling on all fours on the crossing before leaning on the bonnet of his car and he had been frightened by his behaviour.

He sped from the scene because he panicked when he realised he had hit him.

Brooks was arrested later the same night at a friend's house in Isabel Crescent, Hove.

During cross-examination in the witness box, Brooks said: "I have never seen him before in my life. Why would I want to kill somebody I have never met?"

Richard Cherrill, defending, said Brooks was a hard-working family man who ran a dry-lining company employing 15 people.

The jury heard how Mr Jones, a refrigeration engineer, had no memory of the incident and had still not made a complete recovery.

He was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, before being transferred to a specialist head injuries unit at Atkinson Morley Hospital, in south-west London. He spent 23 days in hospital.

He spent some time in a coma and the full extent of any permanent disabilities has not yet been assessed.