A man arrested on suspicion of murder following a fatal hit-and-run told officers he was off his ‘f****** tree’ on cocaine at the time of the alleged incident.

Martin Breeze and his son, Shaun, are accused of mowing down a group of friends walking back from the pub minutes after a minor altercation.

The 57-year-old’s son reported his van had been stolen in an attempt to cover their tracks, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The pair are charged with the murder of Brian Darby after he suffered fatal injuries when he was mowed down by their van.

Brian DarbyBrian Darby

Three other members of the group suffered significant injuries, including the teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons, as a result of the alleged incident on Friday, February 9.

Superintendent Paul Richardson, from Cleveland Police, read through the recorded interview with Martin Breeze following his arrest.

Reading from the transcript, Breeze told officers he had started taking cocaine at around lunchtime on the day in question.

He said the pair had taken around £500-£600 of the Class A drug during the day and denied having anything to do with the death of Mr Darby or injuring any of the other members of the group.

A photograph from the scene of the alleged murderA photograph from the scene of the alleged murder (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

In one exchange between an officer and the defendant, the officer asked: “Were you drinking on Friday night?”

Breeze replied: “Yes.”

The officer: “Were you p***** and on cocaine, how does that make you feel?”

Breeze said: “Tired. F*** me mate. I’m going back to me cell. You’re p****** me off now.”

The officer: “How long did you sleep for on Friday night?”

Breeze replied: “Ah yeah, I’m off my f***** tree, I’ll pick what time I want to go to sleep.”

Officers working at the scene where Brian Darby died following a fatal collisionOfficers working at the scene where Brian Darby died following a fatal collision (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

The defendant then denied that he was one of the people captured on CCTV, which the officer showed him.

Breeze replied: “Have a f****** word with yourself mate. It’s not me. There’s no face. It's just a body, there’s no face.”

Earlier in the trial, jurors heard how alleged murder happened minutes after an innocuous confrontation between Shaun Breeze and the group of friends as they walked home from the pub.

The group were allegedly deliberately mowed down by a father and son in a van and the pair are accused of carrying out a ‘revenge’ hit-and-run which resulted in 60-year-old Mr Darby being carried 150m on the bonnet of their van.

The Ingleby Barwick grandad died after an incident was reported in the Myton Way/Rings area of the town, near Stockton, on Friday, February 9, at around 9.30pm.

Martin Breeze, 57, of Irthing Close, Ingleby Barwick has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges.

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He denied the murder of Mr Darby, the manslaughter of Mr Darby, four charges of attempted murder, four charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

Shaun Breeze, 29, of Owls Grove, Ingleby Barwick, has also pleaded not guilty to the same set of charges.

The father and son are also charged with an additional offence of perverting the course of justice, which they both deny, after reporting the van stolen to police.

The trial continues.