A pensioner who died after he racially abused and attacked a group of Asian men was lawfully killed in self-defence, a Coroner has ruled.

Alan Sheard, 67, who had been drinking heavily, suffered massive head injuries when he fell on to a kerb.

He had been punched once by one of the group who feared for their safety after he had tried to hit out at them in Leeds Road, Thornbury, Bradford.

An inquest into his death in Bradford was told that Mohammed Iqbal, 19, of Thornbury Drive, Thornbury, acted in self-defence when he struck Mr Sheard who had racially abused him, his cousin, his younger brother and a 14-year-old boy on Sunday, April 1.

Mr Sheard, of St Hilda's Terrace, Thornbury, was hit once in the face by Mr Iqbal after he attempted to punch Imran Khazar, 23, of Mortimer Avenue, Bradford Moor.

He fell back and struck his head on the road and suffered severe head injuries, dying two days later at Leeds General Infirmary.

The hearing was told that several witnesses stated that they had seen Mr Sheard shouting racial abuse at another Asian man immediately prior to the incident, then turned on the four young men and swore at them.

Mr Sheard then crossed the road and pursued the group up the road continuing to use racist abuse. When asked by Mr Khazar why he was being racist, Mr Sheard swung a punch at Mr Khazar who parried the blow.

Mr Khazar's cousin, Mohammed Iqbal, attempted to intercede and was turned on by Mr Sheard. Fearing for his safety, and that of his cousin and younger brother, Mr Iqbal closed his eyes and swung a punch at Mr Sheard which connected with his jaw.

Mr Sheard was pole-axed by the blow and tipped backwards off the kerb striking his head on the road. Mr Iqbal and the others fled the scene but turned themselves in to police two days later when they realised how badly injured Mr Sheard had been.

Several people came to Mr Sheard's aid, calling an ambulance and placing him in the recovery position but he never regained consciousness.

A post-mortem examination found that he had suffered severe contusions and haemorrhaging from the impact of his head on the ground.

Both Mr Iqbal, Mr Khazar and several members of Mr Sheard's family attended the inquest.

The hearing was told Mr Sheard had several previous convictions, including one in 2004 for using racially threatening and abusive behaviour. He had also been convicted of five other offences of a violent nature, two of which had earned him custodial sentences.

Recording his verdict, Mr Whittaker said he accepted evidence that Mr Sheard had been intoxicated and abusive and had thrown the first punch in the altercation.

He said: "Before this incident Mr Sheard had racially abused a shopkeeper and was in drink. He crossed the road and was abusive in a horrid way.

"I accept Mr Khazar's evidence that he attempted to diffuse the situation. It was then that Mr Sheard attempted to hit Mr Khazar."

Mr Whittaker continued: "Mr Iqbal observed this and had a care for the younger people in the group. Mr Sheard approached him It is possible they could have run away, but they had been trying to do that and were pursued.

"This was unprovoked inebriated racial abuse. I am satisfied they tried to walk away by Mr Sheard who added to verbal abuse by striking out. Mr Iqbal acted, in my view, reasonably."