An inquest at Leicester Town Hall heard last Wednesday that Peter Bradshaw (61) died just minutes after being dropped off near his home in London Road, Great Glen, on December 10 last year.

Coroner Martin Gotheridge described it as a ‘tragic accident’ and recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Father-of-two Mr Bradshaw was a former kung fu champion and ran a security firm in France which handled the bodyguard duties for celebrities when they were in Europe such as Michael Jackson and Britney Spears.

He was also a former landlord of The Royal Oak pub in Great Glen, which he had recently sold before his death. More than 450 mourners attended his funeral on January 2.

Close friend Dale Murphy told the inquest that Mr Bradshaw had been in good spirits on the day of his death especially as money from selling The Royal Oak had just cleared into his bank account.

Mr Murphy said he and Mr Bradshaw had been for a meal and drinks at The George Hotel in Stamford on the day of Mr Bradshaw’s death – something they did regularly on Monday afternoons. He picked Mr Bradshaw up at about 1pm.

The bar bill from The George showed two bottles of wine, two glasses of wine, four Jack Daniels, beers and ciders but Mr Murphy explained that two other people were drinking with them on the afternoon.

Guy Rutty, professor of forensic pathology at Leicester Royal Infirmary, told the inquest that toxicology reports showed traces of cocaine, codeine and paracetamol in Mr Bradshaw’s system.

He said the toxicology tests showed Mr Bradshaw was about two times the legal drink-drive limit.

He said the cause of death was a broken neck caused after being hit by the car.

Mr Murphy, driving a Toyota Land Cruiser, had dropped Mr Bradshaw off outside his home at about 7.30pm, on the opposite side of the road.

Eyewitness David Copeland, who was walking along London Road at the time, described seeing Mr Bradshaw seconds before he was hit.

He said the scene of the accident is poorly-lit and that Mr Bradshaw seemed to be crossing the road slowly.

“He was walking very slowly but steadily across the road.