Man jailed for killing Wetherspoon barman Matthew Powney with single punch

Bar worker Matthew Powney, aged 31, was innocently standing at a bus stop when violently punched in the face by Shaun Addison, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Moments earlier the 27-year-old had attacked two other people after getting involved in an argument between three men on a stationary bus that had nothing to do with him.

One of these was Kevin Shepperson who appeared drunk and was being accused by the others of stealing a phone - a claim he denied.

Addison walked over to the double decker, climbed on board, ordered Mr Shepperson to get off and knocked him out with a single punch when he refused.

The brute then punched one of the other two men before leaving the bus.

Its driver Stephen Russell told police: "The person doing the swinging turned back, stepped off and, using the momentum, delivered a swinging punch to the first person he saw - Matthew Powney."

The father of one had just finished his shift at the Malthouse Wetherspoon pub, in New Road, Willenhall and was waiting for the last bus home shortly after midnight on July 9.

Mr Robert Price, prosecuting, said the victim had 'not been doing anything except stand aghast at the events unfolding in front of him' and continued: "He was a harmless, friendly completely innocent man."

The back of Mr Powney's head hit the ground hard causing catastrophic skull fractures and a traumatic brain injury from which he died later in hospital. Addison walked away leaving two men lying unconscious on the ground without even calling for assistance but gave himself up the following day.

He sat with head bowed in the dock as the victim's mother Helen Hope said in a victim impact statement read from the witness box that the crime was 'unforgivable.'

She declared: "You killed my son not knowing his name and left him to die in a dirty gutter without looking back. Every day is a struggle with grief. I put on a brave face but cry most days.

"Matthew was so loved by everyone. He was a beautiful, kind, loving soul. Whatever sentence you are given will never be enough."

Mr Christopher Millington QC, defending, accepted Addison would never have got involved in the dispute on the bus but claimed the father of two intended 'to help' before he 'lost his patience and temper.'

The defendant from Furzebank Way, Willenhall admitted the manslaughter of Mr Powney and assaulting Mr Shepperson. The other man he struck was not traced.

Addison was jailed for five years and told by Judge James Burbidge QC: "You became indiscriminate in your temper before you walked off leaving two people unconscious."