A minicab driver who left his passengers screaming in terror after running over a homeless man in the West End was convicted of manslaughter today.

Imran Raja, 37, was ferrying a married couple and two friends to a bar in November last year when Robert Scott, 58, splashed drink over his car and banged on the windscreen. Raja knocked down Mr Scott and drove over the body, the Old Bailey heard.

The driver, who worked for London’s largest minicab firm Addison Lee, insisted he was unaware he had hit the victim until he was alerted by his passengers.

Raja, from Ilford, was convicted of manslaughter rather than murder on the basis he did not intend to cause serious harm. He was jailed for three years and nine months.

Prosecutor David Fisher QC said: “The passengers could hear and feel the bump as the tyres of the minicab went over Robert Scott.” They got out to see Mr Scott lying in the road with severe head injuries.