Man jailed for mistaken identity one-punch killing

Three men have been jailed over the death of a grandfather who was killed in a case of mistaken identity.

David Thompson, 50, had been out drinking in Creswell, Derbyshire, on 26 January when he was punched once by Brandon Brooks.

Brooks and two men had been looking for another man they had been involved in an earlier altercation with, Derbyshire Police said.

On Wednesday, the 24-year-old was jailed for five years for killing Mr Thompson, who died on 15 February from his injuries.

Police said Brooks and Ben Hart picked up their friend Michael McCann and drove around Creswell in the early hours of 27 January, in an effort to find one of the men involved in the altercation.

Mr Thompson, who police said "happened to be wearing very similar clothes" to the man the trio were looking for, was spotted by the group in Elmton Road.

Brooks jumped out of the van being driven by Hart and punched Mr Thompson to the head.

Mr Thompson, from Clowne in Derbyshire, collapsed to the ground and died in hospital after spending 19 days in a coma.

The three men were arrested and initially charged with murder, but later pleaded guilty to lesser offences, including Brooks, of Fairfield Close, Nether Langwith, who admitted manslaughter.

Hart, 21, of Skinner Street, Creswell, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and was jailed for nine months.

McCann, 38, of no fixed abode, admitted a section 4 public order offence and was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison at Derby Crown Court.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Thompson's daughter Emma said his death had "shattered our lives".

"His loss has been felt far and wide," she said.

"I still cannot accept that my dad won't come home one day. As much as I know that he is dead, I fully expect him to walk through my door or to call me on the phone.

"My mind is filled constantly with thoughts of my dad's death - how he felt at the time he was hurt, left on the side of the road, injured, in pain and alone.

"When I talk to our friends, many speak of how they feel, as though they have lost their one true friend – for many, he was the person they turned to."

Det Insp Maria Pleace added: "This case serves as a stark reminder of the truly horrific outcome that can result from a few moments of senseless violence."

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