A pub landlord has been found guilty of manslaughter after chasing an eccentric American to his death in Hampton Court last year.

An Old Bailey jury this morning unanimously found Rostam Notarki, 53, guilty of causing Charles Hickox's death when he was chased from the Cardinal Wolsey pub into the path of a van in Hampton Court Road.

Mr Notarki, of Beech Road in Twickenham, asked the 53-year-old American to leave the pub earlier on the evening of September 7 before he chased him out of the pub with an ironing board.

His son, 19-year-old Kian Notarki, and Mehrad Mohmadi, who works at the pub, were also found guilty of perverting the course of justice by removing CCTV equipment that captured the fatal incident.

Mr Hickox, who was described by prosecutor Michelle Nelson as "rich and eccentric", was seen "running for his life" before being hit by the Mercedes van.

She said: "Footage shows Rostam Notarki holding the ironing board aloft. Mr Hickox reaches the road and Rostam Notarki can be seen striking the victim, propelling him into the road."

He suffered severe brain injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene at 8.33pm.

An ironing board was later found in a cupboard on the premises with one of its legs damaged.

Mr Hickox was asked to leave the Cardinal Wolsey pub earlier that evening and went to the nearby Mute Swan, where he sat with three men he had not met before, the court heard.

The American told the trio he had left his credit card at the Cardinal Wolsey and might have to "crack some ribs" when he went back to get it.

He then said if he did not return in 20 minutes they should give his belongings to charity, indicating the alcohol and eggs.

Mr Hickox took the tennis rackets and left the Mute Swan, and one of the men Femi Omomo, who gave evidence in the trial, said to his friends "if we hear sirens we will know that it’s him".

Rostam Notarki, who worked as a qualified engineer and moved to the UK from Iran in 1982, had denied manslaughter and perverting the court of justice but was found guilty on both counts.

His son and Mohmadi, of Radcliffe Mews in Hampton, denied perverting the course of justice but were also found guilty unanimously by the Old Bailey jury.

All three men have been bailed to appear for sentencing on July 31 at the same court.