A MAN died 12 days after being attacked outside his own home - but the yobs who set on him have never been charged.

John Coupe, 76, of Melville Avenue, Blackburn, was punched in the head and knocked to the ground, fracturing his lower spine, on May 10 last year.

He had intervened after the two men assaulted his sons Brian, 54, and Mark, 34, in their car outside the house, the inquest at Blackburn Register Office heard yesterday.

The hearing was told that Mr Coupe’s death at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, the day after being told his core spinal bone was broken, was “probably linked” to the attack.

Mark Coupe told coroner Michael Singleton: “My father had been on this earth for 76 years before those lads attacked him, and 12 days afterward, he was dead. I attribute his death solely to their actions.”

He told the inquest he had been in his car with his brother, ready to take him home after a night out, when the two men began kicking the vehicle.

They attacked the brothers when they got out of the car, leaving Brian unconscious and with a fractured cheekbone.

John Coupe, a retired lorry driver, went outside, and was punched in the side of his head.

The pair ran away shortly afterwards, coroner Michael Singleton heard.

Home office pathologist Dr Philip Lumb said post-mortem examinations had shown Mr Coupe was suffering from severe coronary heart disease, as well as emphysema and chronic kidney failure, and that a fatal heart attack could have happened at any time.

He said: “Although I can say that the two events probably are linked, I can’t say so to a level of certainty beyond reasonable doubt.”

Mr Singleton recorded a narrative verdict, describing the attack and Mr Coupe’s death.

A 19-year-old from Accrington and a 17-year-old from Blackburn were arrested in connection with the incident but not charged.

Detective Inspector Jill Johnston, of Blackburn CID, said after the inquesr the case would not be re-opened due to a lack of witnesses.