A FORMER soldier 'grinned' after mowing down two doormen while "intent on revenge", a court has heard.

Shailem Dodson, 20, had been asked to leave Halo in Bournemouth when two women complained he was causing trouble. He then got into a brawl outside, punching a member of door staff, it was heard.

Although his friend pleaded with him not to retaliate, Dodson, who had been drinking beer and shots, was so "angry" he got into his Vauxhall Corsa and drove back to the Exeter Road venue, it was heard.

Dodson then allegedly took aim from behind the wheel of the hatchback, ploughing through metal barriers and into the doormen in a bid to murder one of them.

He was "grinning" as he got out of the car, jurors heard yesterday.

Prosecutors played CCTV which shows one doorman, Rafael Zanin, hitting the bonnet of the car and landing on concrete steps.

Only a "miracle" prevented Mr Zanin from being seriously hurt in the incident, it was heard. The complainant suffered cuts and bruises.

The trial began at Winchester Crown Court yesterday. It was heard that Dodson, of of Gunville Down Road in Blandford’s army camp, had been on a night out with friend David Mallen on December 11 last year when he was ejected from Halo.

Prosecutor Rob Welling said Dodson, who served in the Army for two and a half years, had flown into a rage when he was kicked out in the early hours of December 12 and allegedly punched doorman Darren Peterson.

He was restrained and sent on his way when it was believed he had calmed down.

However, it is claimed that Dodson returned to his car, which was parked nearby, and drove back to the club at around 2.30am. When he was later breathalysed, Dodson had 57 micrograms of alcohol in breath. The limit is 35.

Mr Welling said: "[Dodson] was in no fit state to drive, but he was too angry to worry about the consequences.

"He was intent on getting his revenge. He used the car as a weapon."

Dodson denies attempted murder and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm. The court heard he has already admitted assaulting Mr Peterson and drink driving.

"It is inevitable the next day he would be horrified by what he had done, but you do not judge him by regret or remorse after the events. Drunkenness does not provide a defence," Mr Welling said.

"You will see footage of the defendant driving along the pavement and then crashing into a lamppost after hitting Mr Zanin and getting out of the car.

"He is eventually detained on the ground.

"One witness said when he got out the car he was grinning."

The trial continues.