A former restaurant worker who lost a leg after being hit by a lorry during a disturbance which followed a young man's torrent of racial abuse told today how the tragedy had wrecked his life.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the incident nine months ago, Mohammed Farooq Jan said he had suffered months of ''hell'' in hospital and was now serving a ''life-sentence'' because of his disability.

The dad-of-two says he still has nightmares about the incident and fears he may never be able to work again.

Mr Jan, 39, suffered serious leg and head injuries after being involved in a collision with a passing lorry during a disturbance outside Shipley's Adaab Balti Restaurant last April.

He underwent several skin and bone grafts and surgeons inserted metal rods into his right leg but eventually had to amputate it at the knee because of an infection.

In November the Telegraph & Argus reported how John March, 24, of Stanwick House, Bolton Woods, had been ordered to do 210 hours community service and pay £75 costs, having pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment.

Bingley magistrates heard that March, who had been drinking, began swearing and being racially abusive to staff after going for a late night meal and was eventually asked to leave the Adaab where Mr Jan had been working in the kitchen.

Prosecutor Stephen Fox said he agreed to leave but continued with the abuse and referred to the murder of two Leeds United fans in Turkey, asking the restaurant manager ''are you going to stab me?''

While outside March was racially abusive towards Mr Jan, who had come out of the kitchen, Mr Fox said.

Mr Jan is now back home in Amberley Court, Laisterdyke, but has to use a wheelchair much of the time, although he can walk short distances with his artificial leg, and relies on practical help from social services and friends.

He said he still had nightmares about stumbling into the side of the moving lorry and had problems sleeping.

Mr Jan said: "It was hell in hospital. I was like a zombie a lot of the time because of the morphine and when I heard I was going to lose my leg I was so frightened.

"This has completely ruined my life - I could live for another 50 years but will be disabled forever now and I'm still on medication for the phantom pains and depression.

"I'm trying to get back to normal and am going to do a computer course but I just don't know what future there is for me - at the moment I haven't got one.''

Mr Jan added: "I don't think his sentence was fair or that what happened to me was taken into account - he got 210 hours community service but I've been given a life sentence and could have another 50 years of hell.''