A MAN who narrowly avoided being shot after a car he was travelling in was blasted with a shotgun told lies about the identity of the shooter to cover for his “best friend”, a court heard.

Benjamin Betts was in the back seat of a Volkswagen Golf being driven along Haven Road, Canvey Island, in the early hours of August 6 when the car was followed by a Ford S-Max.

The 19-year-old told Basildon Crown Court he assumed it was being driven “by an idiot” when it overtook but panicked when he later saw it stop and a man armed with a shotgun step out.

Connall Regan, 22, of Thames Road, Canvey, is accused of firing the gun as the car went past and then continuing to shoot while Callum Hutchins, 20, of Mornington Road, drove the S-Max.

Both men deny the attempted murder of Volkswagen passengers William Tathum, Reece Johnson and a man known only as Woody, who was driving.

Mr Betts told the court he originally declined to speak to police, but gave a statement after seeing Connall Regan named as the gunman on social media in mid-September.

He said: “It was a false allegation against Connall Regan. It was all over Facebook, they were naming people.

“Someone was being framed for something they didn’t do. I can’t exactly sit there and have that, can I?”

Mr Betts said the shooter’s face was covered by a balaclava when he stepped out of the car and he was not able to make out the driver.

He said he knew it was not Regan because he is slim and only about 5’10” while the shooter was 6’4” and stocky.

He said: “The back door opened and a man stepped out. He was a tall geezer and he had a bit of weight on him. He was holding a sawn-off shotgun and he let a round off.”

Mr Betts claimed the first round “shattered” the windscreen and he spent the ensuing chase through the streets of Canvey ducking down behind the front seat.

He said: “I was scared. It was like a movie, I was shocked.” Mr Betts said at least 24 shots were fired before the car crashed onto the roundabout on Link Road, near the Esso garage.

During the chase, Mr Tathum and Mr Johnson both received gunshot wounds.

Gerard Pounder, prosecuting, said Regan was Mr Betts’ best friend, although Mr Betts said he would describe them as “close”.

Mr Pounder said: “You have come here to help his case. You are helping his case by telling lies about him. Because it was Connall Regan in that car. He was the shooter.”

Mr Betts replied: “No, he wasn’t.”

Regan also gave evidence in his defence. He said he was at home during the incident, having met Hutchins earlier on.

He said the reason he changed his phone the next day was because he had spilt a drink on it.

The trial continues.