A father to a newly born daughter was killed by a single punch after getting into a row in the pub.
Alan Barefoot, died in hospital after receiving a single punch to the head outside the Royal Pub in Thirsk from Benjamin Calvert.
Alan Barefoot, 32, became embroiled in an argument at the Royal Pub in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, after being asked to leave on October 16 last year.
CCTV footage played at Leeds Crown Court showed him in ‘animated discussion’ with Thomas Cressey, 25, Benjamin Calvert, 22.
After a scuffle erupted outside, Calvert could be seen delivering a single blow to Mr Barefoot while he was backing off and offering up no defence.
He was knocked unconscious immediately after his head bounced off the pavement.
People outside the pub rushed to the aid of Mr Barefoot, put him in the recovery position and called the emergency services.
He was admitted to hospital with serious head injuries but never regained consciousness and died on October 24, 2021.
The impact on Mr Barefoot’s family was so significant his former partner and mother of two of his sons took her own life in the aftermath, in part due to the trauma she had suffered.
Mr Barefoot was celebrating the birth of his daughter Willow (Picture: North News & Pictures Ltd)
After the fight, the court heard how Calvert left the scene to change his clothes and the original outfit he was wearing has never been recovered by police.
He was later located and arrested before testing positive for cocaine.
Calvert admitted to drinking around 10 pints of lager and initially claimed self-defence, refusing to give police the pin code to his mobile phone.
Officers eventually gained access and found messages where he admitted to his role in the incident but he told investigators he could not remember the night’s events.
When he heard about the police appeal for information, Cressey handed himself in and admitted his part in the brawl.
Benjamin Calvert, 22, was sentenced to five years and four months in jail (Picture: North News & Pictures ltd.
Defending, Matthew Harding KC said Calvert had initially ushered others away from Mr Barefoot and was not involved in the build-up to the violence.
He went on to say how he changed his clothes in a ‘panic’ once he realised the gravity of the situation.
Cressey’s barrister, Denise Breen-Lawton KC, said he was ‘full of remorse’ and took full responsibility for his actions, describing him as a ‘caring and polite’ man.
Family victim impact statements were read out to the court from Mr Barefoot’s mother Karen Banks, partner Charlotte Dickinson and 16-year-old sister.
He had become a father to his daughter Willow shortly before his death and had three sons from previous relationships.
Alan’s current partner Charlotte, said: ‘It has been extremely hard dealing with the whole experience. All of our daughter’s firsts will be missed by Bezzy, her first birthday was definitely the hardest and this will be the same for Bezzy’s other children.
‘The future is going to be very different for us both and we will have to learn how to cope with our new future.
‘I would just like to say a massive thank you to the investigation team, victim support and the family liaison officers for all their hard work and support over the last year.’
Setencing, Judge Tom Baylis sentenced Calvert, of Sowbery, to five years and four months in prison after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Cressey of Boroughbridge, received a six-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to affray.
