Neighbours claim John Collins, 55, was punched, kicked and stamped on by the two men, who residents say were being egged on by a female friend, on Wednesday evening.

Helpless father-of-three John, who one shocked friend said couldn't have been an easier target, is believed to have been fatally injured in the horrifying assault just yards from where his daughter Laura was playing with a friend inside.

Neighbours on the quiet street in Holmfirth say the three yobs were prowling the street with a bottle of whiskey, shouting at terrified locals and kicking over bins prior to the incident.

John, who leaves behind shattered girlfriend of 10 years Claire Woods, quietly tried to make his way past the intimidating group when he was set upon.

A family friend living on the street, who did not want to be named, said: "John's daughter was playing in a house a couple of doors down from where all the trouble was being caused and he got a call from a neighbour saying the lads were kicking off.


"John went to go and get his daughter from the house where she was and they just attacked him. He wouldn't have said anything to them, they just saw him and went for him.

"He is the sort of person that would have been worried as he walked up to them, he wouldn't have looked for trouble.

"Apparently one of them swung for him and missed but then connected with a punch and they kicked him. They were walking away when the girl shouted something and they went back to finish him off.

"Luckily his daughter didn't see what happened but John managed to get back to his house before he collapsed and there was blood inside.

"When Laura went home after he had been taken to hospital she saw the blood and said: 'something has happened to my daddy'."

John, who also has a son, Chris, and another daughter, Melanie, initially walked to an ambulance and was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary before being transferred to Leeds General Infirmary where he died on Thursday.

One neighbour, who lived opposite the scene of the alleged attack, said: "I didn't see the start of the trouble but I looked out and saw them stamping on his head.

"When they ran away I went out to help him and his face was just full of blood.

"He was mumbling and he didn't know what he was doing but he managed to stumble back to his home before he collapsed."

Retired John, who cared for his elderly mother, told people at the scene he had fallen over after the incident, while his alleged attackers escaped in a car which residents say was being driven by another man.

Karen Warham, 44, was looking after his seven-year-old daughter Laura when the trouble happened.

She said: "He was devoted to his little girl, he doted on her. He did whatever he could for her and I think she will be absolutely distraught."

Flowers were placed against a fence next to where the incident happened with heartfelt messages for John and his family, while police have cordoned off one house on the road.

Police have arrested three men, two aged 30 and one aged 29, and a 23-year-old woman in connection with the alleged murder. All four are still in custody.