Witness David Chandler told the Leeds Crown jury front-seat passenger Jonathan McDonald was drunk and flailing his arms about as they drove away from the Hunter's Arms pub near Pool-in-Wharfedale after a Bank Holiday drinking session.

Soon after leaving the pub the van ploughed into cyclist Stephen Granger, 59, a gardener from Moortown.

He died of multiple injuries at the scene of the accident on the A658 Bradford-Harrogate road on Easter Sunday last year.

Chandler, 41, said: "I went to take the corner and he leaned over and took the top of the wheel and pulled the wheel.

"He got the top of the wheel at 12 o'clock and turned the wheel and the car has gone violently to the left."

Chandler said after he straightened the van he noticed the windscreen was smashed. He did not stop and drove on to his home in Pool-in-Wharfedale where he punched McDonald in the face.

"I punched him and said 'look at the state of my van, what have you done you idiot?'"

Chandler said McDonald had been flailing his arms about and just generally being a lunatic in the vehicle.

Chandler has pleaded guilty to causing death by driving without due care and attention while over the drink-drive limit. He has also admitted perverting the course of justice.

The prosecution claim Chandler and McDonald had downed at least six pints before getting in the van.

McDonald, 34, formerly of Rawdon, but now of the Foxholes, Woodhall Court, Leeds, denies manslaughter.

Prosecutors claim Paul Bryan, 40, of Brownberrie Lane, Horsforth picked Chandler up that night and drove him to a hotel at Leeds Bradford Airport where he booked him in for the night under a false name. It is claimed Bryan drove Chandler to Wales the following morning so he could "keep his head down".

Bryan denies attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Proceeding