Drunk man jailed for single punch killing of dad

A man who killed a father-of-two with a single punch during an "alcohol-fuelled" attack at the end of a charity event has been jailed.

Jack Oliver Frogell, known as Olly, 48, died a number of days after David Lewis punched him in the face outside Hemel Hempstead Town FC's ground in Hertfordshire, in the early hours of 25 October.

Lewis, 38, of Fennycroft Road in Hemel, had drunk eight pints of beer in five hours before the unprovoked attack, Luton Crown Court heard. He was jailed for four years and four months after previously admitting manslaughter.

Frogell's widow, Lisa Frogell-Mason, told Lewis during a sentencing hearing: "I will never forgive you for as long as I live."

Judge Michael Simon said a night of "charity and community spirit" had turned into "tragedy".

Barrister Jonathan Mole, prosecuting, told the judge that Frogell had been outside helping usher people away after a disturbance at the event at the football club, which was a breast cancer awareness evening.

He had arrived to collect his wife and two children shortly before he was set upon.

CCTV footage showed Lewis walk up behind Frogell, then, after a brief interaction, floor him with a right hand punch to the face, Mole said.

Frogell, who was from Hemel, suffered a brain injury and died on 4 November.

Lewis, who is also married with two children, was arrested after handing himself in to police the day after the attack.

John Ryder KC, who represented Lewis, said his client thought Frogell was following a friend who had been involved in the disturbance.

He said Lewis thought Frogell had made a "disparaging remark" to the friend, before Lewis then made a "catastrophic misjudgement" and punched him.

Judge Simon heard that Lewis had arrived at the event shortly before 19:00 BST on 24 October and drunk multiple pints of beer.

He said CCTV showed "nothing" in Frogell's actions to "give cause for concern".

The judge added that Lewis had "at best" made a "monumental, alcohol-fuelled misjudgement", which had "catastrophic consequences".

"The general dangers of drinking to excess are well known, but this case so graphically illustrates the devastating consequences that can result from a single punch," Judge Simon said.

"In this case, that single act of violence was not only alcohol-fuelled but utterly unprovoked."

He told Lewis: "In your significantly intoxicated state, having erroneously sensed some need to protect [a friend], and having floored Mr Frogell with a single punch to the head, you walked around briefly and then walked away."

Frogell's widow broke down as she read a statement outlining her feelings.

"Rather than help, you walked away and you left him," she told Lewis.

"It is inhumane what you did."

Frogell-Mason added: "My husband did not deserve to to be punched, he did not deserve to die. Our family did not deserve to carry on life without him."

She said she hoped Lewis was haunted for the rest of his life.

Frogell's father, Jack, told the hearing: "I have been deprived of my son by a thug who cowardly ran away after an unprovoked attack."

The judge heard that Lewis had a 2009 conviction for battery.

Ryder said his client wanted to communicate the "depth of his sorrow and regret" to Frogell's family.

Det Insp Caeva Taylor, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire major crime unit, said after the hearing: "This has been a heart-breaking ordeal for Olly's family and friends, and our thoughts are with them as they continue to deal with their loss."

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