Killer jailed for grandad's beer garden death

A man who fatally attacked a much-loved grandfather in a pub's beer garden has been jailed for six years.

Carl James, 42, died in hospital three days after he was headbutted and punched by Curtis Tudor outside the Jack and Jill Pub in Middlesbrough in May, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Judge Francis Laird KC said the "extremely violent" attack was launched "without warning or provocation" and caused Mr James to fall and strike his head on a table.

Tudor, 26, of Welburn Grove in Ormesby, admitted manslaughter.

The men had had an argument or "chew" earlier on 11 May and it turned violent when Mr James sat on a bench next to Tudor shortly before 18:00 BST that day, the court heard.

Tudor was heard to tell Mr James to leave seconds before he then attacked him, the court heard.

After headbutting and punching him, Tudor tried to inflict further blows but was pulled away by other people in the pub garden, which was filled with families including young children, the court heard.

Mr James, a father of five and grandfather of two, suffered catastrophic bleeding in his brain and died on 14 May, the court heard.

Judge Laird praised the "bravery and fortitude" of the victim's family who "spoke in "glowing terms of a well-liked generous man".

"Generous not only with is money but with his time and his affection," Judge Laird said, adding: "His death has understandably had a profound effect on them and has created a sad and terrible void.

"He was indeed a much-loved and loving son, brother, partner, dad and granddad."

The judge said no sentence could reflect the "value or worth of his life" which had been "cruelly snatched away from him".

Judge Laird said Tudor intended to cause Mr James a "significant injury" but he could not conclude the attack carried an obvious "high risk of death or grievous bodily harm".

The court heard Tudor had a violent history having attacked two other men in March.

But Judge Laird said he accepted Tudor had expressed "genuine remorse" for Mr James' death and there was a "realistic prospect of rehabilitation".

Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].