A drunken reveller who caused a dad's death by shoving him to the ground outside a pub has been jailed for his manslaughter. Carl Sinclair, 58, was caught on CCTV footage attacking Roy Halliwell, 61, before casually walking away.
Mr Halliwell hit his head on the floor and died of his injuries a week later. Sinclair was jailed for five years and six months after pleading guilty to manslaughter at Bolton Crown Court.
Police said Sinclair had been making threats and shouting 'nonsensically' at Mr Halliwell before the incident in the street in Wigan town centre last December. He then followed Mr Halliwell to a nearby pub where he violently pushed him to the ground, leaving him with a critical head wound.
CCTV caught Mr Halliwelll first placing a hand on Sinclair as he moved towards him before Sinclair aggressively shoved him along the pavement and onto the floor. The attacker then callously left Mr Halliwell in the street.
Greater Manchester Police said witnesses identified Sinclair as the attacker soon after the incident and officers arrested him on suspicion of assault at his home. He was later re-arrested and charged with manslaughter following Mr Halliwell’s death. He was was sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty an earlier hearing.
Speaking after the sentencing, DI Chris Preston from Greater Manchester Police, said: “Sinclair’s actions that night were callous and reckless and they have devastated the lives of Roy’s family and friends. They must now live with the consequences of this man’s drunken and violent behaviour for the rest of their lives.
"The thoughts of the investigation team remain with Roy’s family today. From the beginning this was a fast-paced investigation, with multiple witnesses to interview.
“Local officers who were called to the incident and the investigation team have worked very hard on this case and I want to thank them for their efforts. Sadly, this case demonstrates how devastating an assault can be and how a split-second decision to act with violence can destroy many lives. I urge people to think very carefully about their actions when consuming alcohol as it can have grave and tragic consequences.”
