A man accused of punching a pensioner in a fit of road rage has been cleared of causing his death.

Mark Heightley, 28, of The Crestway, Brighton, who denied a charge of manslaughter, was jailed for two years at Lewes Crown Court yesterday after he admitted causing an affray.

George Osborne, 75, drove off after the violent row with Heightley in Hollingdean Place, Brighton, in February.

Minutes later he crashed into a telegraph pole and died of heart failure.

A post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death to be severe coronary artery disease.

The trial was halted on the third day after the jury heard the prosecution could not prove an unlawful act of violence caused Mr Osborne's death as he had a long-standing heart condition and could have died at any time.

The prosecution offered no further evidence and the jury returned a formal verdict of not guilty to manslaughter. The judge ordered a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, which Heightley had also denied, to lie on file.

The court heard Mr Osborne, of Burstead Close, Brighton, was nearing a junction in Hollingdean Place when Heightley stepped into the road.

Witnesses gave different accounts as to who started the altercation.

But the prosecution accused Heightley of losing his temper. He was alleged to have sworn and punched Mr Osborne who had got out of his red Ford Fiesta.

But Heightley denied punching the pensioner.

He did admit shaking Mr Osborne and swearing at him in a statement to police.

Sentencing Heightley, Mr Justice Moses said: "He died for reasons which cannot be ascertained other than he did have a sick heart, which might have caused him to die at any time.

"In these circumstances the court cannot prove your unlawful act caused his death and that is why you have been acquitted of manslaughter."