DETECTIVES investigating the death of Bradford's so-called Jesus Man were told he could be "occasionally satanic," drank wine and spirits daily and was banned from a city library, an inquest was told.

The resumed inquest into Geoffrey Brindley's death today heard how police carried out an extensive investigation into how he was found collapsed, but still breathing at the foot of the stairs of his home in Langley Lane, Baildon, on August 13.

The 88-year-old, who was known for walking the district's streets wearing a robe and smiling and waving at strangers, died in hospital 11 days later.

During the investigation, which found no foul play, detectives spoke to two men who were rivals for Mr Brindley's friendship.

One of the men was George Armstrong who had known Mr Brindley for about 40 years and invited him share his house 29 years ago. The other was James Edmundson, a visitor to their house who considered himself the closest person to Mr Brindley.

Mr Edmundson had been a friend, admirer and self-appointed guardian angel of the Bradford character, said Detective Constable Steve Hepworth whose report was read to the inquest.

It was Mr Armstrong who found Mr Brindley snoring on the day of the fall as if he had suffered a stroke at the foot of the stairs, the inquest was told.

He had described Mr Brindley loosely as a Christian, an austere character who rarely smiled, had few belongings and could be occasionally satanic, the inquest was told.

Mr Armstrong also told the detective that Mr Brindley lived in the smallest of their three bedrooms where he stayed most of the time reading scriptures and encyclopedia.

He had also been banned from the Bradford city library although the reasons weren’t given in the inquest.

Mr Brindley had also drunk spirits and wine daily and an empty bottle had been found in his room.

The inquest was also told that to contribute towards his upkeep at Langley Lane, Mr Brindley would cut the grass and pay the council tax.

Mr Armstrong, who has some mental health difficulties and was described as being a similar but less recognisable character to Mr Brindley, had come home from his own wanderings on August 13 to find his friend behind the unlocked front door.

Mr Brindley was snoring and looked as though he had suffered a stroke.

Mr Armstrong called 999 and Mr Brindley was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary where he died on August 24 from broncho pneumonia, his head injuries and body bruising were compatible with a fall.

Assistant Bradford coroner Oliver Longstaff said Mr Brindley had died as a result of an accident.

He described him as a fascinating man and added: "He was a local character of some reputation with a social media following of about 20,000. He is going to be missed.

"It was inevitable there was going to be a degree of intrigue and mystery about how he was found and the police have properly carried out an investigation. I'm absolutely satisfied there is not the slightest suspicion of foul play."

Mr Brindley's funeral will be at Bradford Cathedral on Tuesday at 1pm followed by a private committal service.

The Rev Sandra Benham, Incumbent of St John’s church in Baildon, will lead the traditional Church of England service where hymns Jerusalem, Abide with me and How Great Thou Art will be sung.

A eulogy will be given by Colin Watson, who is Mr Brindley's cousin.

Mr Brindley, who was born in Buxton, also has another cousin. His father who was a railway man died in an accident at work when he was ten.

In adulthood, he had worked at a tractor making factory in Bradford before going to live in a cave at Settle in 1961 and emerging to wear a brown robe and sandals which became his trademark look as he walked the streets of Bradford and surrounding areas.