A woman who was a passenger in a car when its driver targeted three men in a hit and run has denied she encouraged or assisted him to do so.

Sammi Horner, of Market Place, North Walsham, appeared at Norwich Crown Court today charged with intentionally encouraging or assisting Darren Blackmore during the incident last year.

When the trial began on Monday Stephen Mather, prosecuting, told the jury the charge related to a hit and run incident in the Vicarage Car Park in North Walsham at 12.55am on Saturday, July 23, 2016.

At the time Matthew Knowles, Lee Knights and Ashley Robinson were in the car park. Blackmore drove his Peugeot 307 at them, causing Mr Knowles to be thrown in the air and suffer multiple injuries.

Blackmore, 43, of Laburnham Close, Wymondham admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent in December.

Mr Mather said: 'There were three passengers in the car, one of which was Sammi Horner in the back seat.'

He said Horner had called Blackmore to come and pick her up, after she claimed her belongings had been lost of stolen.

'What the prosecution is saying is when she was in the car she identified the three males who were in the car park and with her assistance in identifying them and her encouragement to 'go get them' [Blackmore] drove directly at the three males.'

He added Horner, 35, had told police she had asked Blackmore to pick her up, and she had been in the car.

But he told the jury Horner said she 'did not assist him by pointing out these victims, she did not encourage him - that is the issue we have to decide with the evidence.'

The jury will hear from the two other passengers in the car, as well as evidence from the police.

They will also be shown CCTV footage of the incident which was released by Norfolk Police in August last year as part of a witness appeal.

Mr Mather said the video would show the car 'knocking Matthew Knowles well into the air, going round the car park, and going round a second time before driving on.'

Horner will be represented by Ian James.

The trial continues and is expected to last until early next week.