Man's schoolboy killer sentenced

Neil Abrams died from his injuries three days after the attack

A 16-year-old boy who jointly killed a man as he tried to break up a fight has been sentenced to three years' youth custody.

Neil Abrams, 43, was attacked by the boy and Luke Elliott, now 20, after attempting to break up a brawl in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.

The boy, who cannot be named, and Elliott admitted committing manslaughter in August 2007.

Elliott was jailed for three-and-a-half years at the Old Bailey.

Jurors at their earlier trial at Luton Crown Court had heard how the pair kicked and punched Mr Abrams, from Pitstone, Buckinghamshire, who was trying to break up a confrontation between his friends and Elliott's father Simon.

'Mindless violence'

Stuart Trimmer QC, prosecuting, said the fight took place outside Pizza Plus, Leighton Buzzard, during which Simon Elliott ended up on the ground and may have been knocked out.

The court was told that the boy, from Leighton Buzzard, who was 15 at the time, ran to a nearby pub to get Luke Elliott.

The pair then ran back to the scene by which time the fight had finished.

Mr Abrams was then knocked to the ground in a single blow by the boy and was stamped on and kicked by Elliott, who lived in nearby Heath and Reach.

Mr Abrams died three days later in hospital.

Elliott pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the second week of his trial

Judge Philip Clegg told the Old Bailey: "This was yet another example of drunken violent behaviour by young people in a crowded street."

Referring to Mr Abram's parents' grief, he said: "I can't think of anything worse than being on holiday and hearing that your son is desperately ill, and then going back and watching his life support machine being turned off - then to know it is the result of a senseless, mindless piece of violence."

In a statement outside the court, Mr Abram's parents Sheila and Alan said: "Words alone cannot describe the enduring sense of devastation, loss and sheer emptiness we feel since his death.

"He was loveable, thoughtful and generous and it still seems unbelievable he should be taken from us in such a sudden and senseless way.

"No sentence will ever be long enough or will bring Neil back."