A THUG who attacked a pensioner in the toilets of a Bolton pub has been convicted of his manslaughter.

Daniel Riley shook his head in the dock at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, as a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

Riley’s victim, 73-year-old William Roy Melling, died in August, 2015, six months after being struck by Riley in the toilets of the Lion of Vienna pub in Chorley New Road.

It was the second time that Riley, aged 24, of Spinners Mews, Bolton, had stood trial for the crime. A retrial was held after a jury failed to reach a verdict last year.

During the latest 11-day trial, the court heard how Mr Melling, who was known as Roy to his friends, suffered a major head injury in the attack. Rob Hall, prosecuting, told how Riley was a regular customer at the pub, but a fortnight before attacking Mr Melling he had been barred for a week after getting involved in a verbal altercation with another pub-goer, 46-year-old Angela Green.

Ms Green regarded Mr Melling as a second father and had informed him about the row with Riley.

After the ban ended Riley returned to the pub and was inside with his brother, Benjamin Riley and other friends on Thursday January 22 2015 when Mr Melling accused Riley of being a coward and offered to fight him outside.

“That verbal exchange clearly wound the defendant up,” said Mr Hall.

Although the pair did not go outside Riley was said to have commented: “If this chap wants a fight, he can have a fight.”

But his friend, Patrick McGrath warned 6ft 2in tall Riley: “If you hit him you will kill him.”

Mr Melling was just 5ft 7in tall and was in poor health, suffering from breathing and heart problems.

The jury was told that Riley, a self-employed satellite engineer, appeared to calm down but a short time later headed to the toilets with his brother, knowing Mr Melling was already there.

Riley, who denied killing the pensioner, claimed that he was standing at a urinal when, without warning, Mr Melling punched him to the side of the face and he swung his arm out in self-defence, knocking him backwards to the floor.

But the court heard that no injury was seen on Riley and the jury of four women and six men did not believe his story. After nine hours of deliberation they decided that he had deliberately attacked the older man.

Mr Melling was knocked unconscious to the toilet floor, struggling to breathe with blood on his mouth and facial injuries.

In hospital doctors discovered he had suffered a fractured skull and he was later transferred to St Catherine’s Care Home in Horwich, bed-bound and needing round-the-clock care. He died on August 6 2015.

Riley’s barrister, Richard Holland, appealed to Judge John Potter to allow Riley bail until he is sentenced on June 15, claiming his client needed time to make arrangements for his business and care of his pet cat.

But Judge Potter told Riley: “The reality of the situation you find yourself in is you have been convicted of the unlawful killing of a 70-plus-year-old man.

“The reality is you are going to receive a custodial sentence. I have come to the view that you should start that sentence now.”