Bradford’s senior coroner’s officer Alan Pritchard has retired after two decades of investigating some 9,000 sudden, violent and unexpected deaths across the district.

The 65-year-old, from Bingley, has dealt with more than 100 homicide cases, 200 road crashes and 500 suicides in that time.

Mr Pritchard said every one of those cases had been unique, but some remained as vivid in his mind as when they first happened, such as the inquests for the self-called Crossbow Cannibal Stephen Griffiths’ murder victims and the 2008 inquiry into the deaths of a 21-year-old man, a 17-year-old youth and two boys, aged 15 and 16, when the stolen high-powered car they were in smashed into a chip shop in Bradford and burst into flames.

He said: “It’s been rather busy, but they have all been very different and all unique because of the individual people who have died and their families, many of whom have been very dignified and respectful of our investigations.

“It isn’t easy for them at such a traumatic time of losing a loved one, but the police have a common law duty to investigate all sudden, violent and unexpected deaths and it has been my job to help them do that and gather evidence the coroner needs to find out the facts of who it is who has died, when and where and what has led to their death.”

Keighley-born Mr Pritchard’s career began as a 16-year-old police cadet. He worked his way up to the rank of sergeant, gaining experience in the Task Force and Vice Squad in Shipley, Pudsey, Leeds, Halifax and Bradford.

His first four years working for the coroner was still as a police officer, until the role was civilianised.

Mr Pritchard said: “The job is changing. There’s a new Coroner’s Act coming in so it’s the right time for me to go. It’s been a rewarding job, but I won't miss it.”