A man who died 25 years after he was attacked by his mother as a baby was unlawfully killed, a coroner has ruled.

Mark Watson suffered a fractured skull and was left deaf, blind and unable to walk and talk due to the severity of the injuries he suffered when he was four months old.

He died in June this year of broncho-pneumonia and cardiac failure.

But a Bradford inquest was told yesterday that a post-mortem examination by pathologist Dr Patricia Gudgeon concluded that his death was as a direct result of the injuries he suffered when he was attacked by his mother in 1977.

Recording a verdict that Mark had been unlawfully killed, Coroner Roger Whittaker said: "I have no doubt this old head injury is the same injury which led to earlier problems which sadly restricted his life for the rest of his adult life.

"I conclude that I relate his death to these non-accidental injuries, without which he may still be alive. It is therefore clear that this death is an unlawful killing."

Following the attack on Mark, which also left him with epilepsy and unable to wash himself, his mother, whom Mr Whittaker said he did not want to name, was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm.

The inquest was told that Mark was first admitted to hospital in 1977 with bruises on his neck and head, but experts decided the injuries were not deliberate and were put down to "bad parenting".

Two weeks later, he was referred back to hospital after becoming semi-conscious and having convulsions.

Doctors discovered "severe non-accidental" injuries and a police investigation was started which resulted in both his parents being arrested and questioned and his mother eventually being charged.

Mark's foster mother Valerie Basham said in a statement to the hearing that she fostered him when he was 18 months old and bathed, nursed and loved him.

Mrs Basham, of Shirley Road, Gomersal, said Mark had a temperature on June 1 and she checked on him during the night before going to bed.

But later she found him cold and lifeless and paramedics called to the scene confirmed he had died.

Recording his verdict, Coroner Roger Whittaker also paid tribute to Mrs Basham for her devotion to Mark over the years, saying it had brought a "whole new context to maternal care".

Today a West Yorkshire police spokesman said the force would not be re-investigating the case despite the inquest verdict.

The spokesman said: "Somebody has previously been charged in connection with the assault and it has been dealt with by the court.