Man jailed over forecourt death

Barman Colin Stewart died three days after he collapsed

A man has been jailed for three years for killing a barman who died after a fight on a petrol station forecourt.

James Venn pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Colin Stewart following the dispute at the Esso Garage in Franklyn Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, in June.

Mr Stewart, 32, had collapsed on his front door step when he got home from the incident in the early hours of the morning.

He died three days later in hospital, after surgeons removed a blood clot from his brain.

I hope you never raise your fist in anger again Judge Anthony Scott-Gall

Lewes Crown Court heard how Venn punched Mr Stewart because he thought he was going to attack his father.

But Mr Stewart had been walking away from him after being accused of jumping the queue, the court was told.

Venn, 23, only punched Mr Stewart two or three times before being pulled off, but the force of one of the blows caused the fatal head injury, the court heard.

Jailing Venn, of Highfield Drive, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, who has a previous conviction for actual bodily harm, Judge Anthony Scott-Gall told him: "I hope you never raise your fist in anger again."