Bradford-born serial killer Donald Neilson had asked prison staff not to keep him alive if his health deteriorated, an inquest heard today.

The 75-year-old, formerly of Grangefield Avenue, Thornbury , known as the Black Panther following his 1970s murder spree, had been diagnosed with the irreversible muscle-wasting condition motor neurone disease two years before his death on December 18 last year after being transferred from Norwich Prison to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, suffering from a chest infection and pneumonia.

Norfolk Coroner William Armstrong said Neilson's family had been informed of the inquest at Norwich Coroner's Court yesterday but chose to stay away.

Relatives did not visit him in jail, although after the inquest it emerged that his daughter, Kathryn, had sent prison staff a card thanking them for the care they provided.

The inquest heard Neilson had been a “challenging and unco-operative” patient.

A jury returned a verdict that Neilson died of natural causes.