A van driver, who had been in a road rage row with an elderly motorist in Radlett High Street, was attacked in his depot by two men and a woman who had intervened, a jury heard.

Edson Dos Santos, 43, said he was followed back to the UK Mail Depot at Ventura Park, Colney Street, St Albans, where he was alleged set upon by Terrence Pearson, his father John and Terrence's girlfriend Lauren Varley.

He told St Albans Crown Court that Terrence Pearson came to the driver's window and was screaming and shouting.

"He was punching the window. He was kicking the van. I picked up the phone and called the police.

"All of a sudden another person (John Pearson) came with a hammer. He passed the hammer to the younger man, who smashed the window.

"Both dragged me out of the van - one by the neck and one by the shirt. I fell and received several punches and kicks.

"One was screaming: 'Kill him, kill him!' He said: "kill this mother f.....!"

"I felt my life was in danger."

Mr Dos Santos said Ms Varley also delivered a few kicks.

He said his head was bleeding, but he started to fight back. He alleged John Pearson picked up a shovel and chased him around the depot.

"I grabbed another shovel and smashed it onto his shovel. He let his go. The younger one came towards me and then saw the shovel and turned.

"I hit him on the back.

"After that I fell to the ground. He picked up the shovel and he tried to hit me with that. I swerved. He said 'Stay there so I will kill you.' At that point the police arrived," he said.

He told the jury of eight women and four men that he received an injury to the top and back of his head, a scratch on his right side, a bruise on his neck, an injured finger and a bruise to his arm.

Under cross examination the van driver denied he had been the aggressor. He told John Pearson, who is representing himself, :"You and your son stuck your nose in."

When questioned, Terrence Pearson told the police that they had been acting as Good Samaritans after the van driver had been in a road rage row with the elderly driver of a Peugeot 206.

He said the van driver repeatedly blew his horn at the elderly driver of a Peugeot 206 who had pulled out in front of him at around 4.30 in the afternoon and pursued him up the road.

Mr Pearson said the driver, who was petrified, turned into a cul-de-sac at Woodlands. The van driver followed and called the other driver a 'c...'

He said the police were called, but the van driver left, with him ending up on the bonnet as he tried to stop him.

Terrence Pearson said he hit bollards along the side of the road before he fell off.

His father arrived in his van and they followed him to the depot where he said they waited for the police.

Terrence Pearson, 31, of Lye Lane, Bricket Wood, John Pearson, 63, also of Lye Lane, Bricket Wood, and Lauren Varley, 31, of Centaurus Square, Frogmore, St Albans all deny causing actual bodily harm to Edson Dos Santos and affray on 28 October 2013.

The trial continues.