A truck driver fired more than 700 times at other motorists during a five-year shooting spree on Germany motorways, a court has heard.

The accused, Michael Harry K, carried out the indiscriminate attacks to teach road users a "lesson" over their behaviour behind the wheel, it was alleged.

The defendant (58), from the west of the country, was arrested in June 2013. He faces five counts of attempted murder, as well as grievous bodily harm and other charges.

He could receive a lengthy prison term if found guilty by a district court in the Bavarian city of Wuerzburg.

Senior prosecutor Boris Raufeisen was quoted as saying the defendant was aware he could cause "serious accidents with considerable consequences to the point of death of other road users."

In 2009, a businesswoman in a car was critically injured after being struck in the neck and crashing into the motorway barrier at high speed.

During the investigation into the shootings, which began a year earlier, he allegedly said he did not want to hurt anyone and only aimed at trucks' hauls.

He also said he acted after nearly being pushed off the road by a car transporter, it was claimed. His defence team has rejected the attempted murder charges.

The investigation into the motorway shootings was complicated because the drivers often did not notice their vehicles had been hit until they arrived at their destinations.