A 20-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to four years behind bars after a one-punch attack caused the death of a visiting golfer in a drunken town centre confrontation.

Morgan Wainewright from Monmouth, who was 19 at the time of the incident last June, appeared for sentence at Newport Crown Court last Thursday (December 22) after admitting the manslaughter of Poole man, 43-year-old Andrew Nicholas.

Judge Daniel Williams said the defendant “had been drinking a lot and taken cocaine and ketamine” while the victim was “very unsteady through drink” when the two clashed near Monmouth’s King’s Head Wetherspoon pub in the early hours of Sunday, June 26.

Mr Nicholas died at Cardiff University hospital four days later as a result of ‘blunt force trauma’ caused by hitting his head on the pavement when he fell to the ground.

Neither man had met before, the court heard, but when they bumped into each other at the top of Monnow Street shortly after 1am, the two came to blows.

CCTV showed Mr Nicholas throwing a punch at Wainewright which missed, and the latter then punching twice, with the first blow connecting and felling the other man.

It was revealed that Wainewright, who had been drinking since 4pm, had been frustrated earlier in the night after having to make up the shortfall in his group’s restaurant bill.

He was then asked to leave the King’s Head following a heated argument involving a group of men, with the doorman saying he appeared “wound-up” and “looking for trouble”.

Outside a fight then erupted between a group from Monmouth and one from Newport, with Wainewright throwing punches.

Mr Nicholas, who was visiting the town with friends on a golfing trip and had spent the night drinking in the Green Dragon, then bumped into the teenager after visiting the nearby kebab takeaway, sparking the fatal confrontation.

Judge Williams told Wainewright: “You and Andrew Nicholas went out in separate groups into Monmouth town centre. Mr Nicholas had been in the Green Dragon pub and on to buy a kebab. You had been for a meal earlier on and had been in the King’s Head in the early hours.

“You had been drinking a lot and you had taken cocaine and ketamine. Inside the King’s Head you were involved in an argument with a group of men.

“I have seen the footage inside the pub. At stages you are forehead to forehead with one man. It seems others try to placate you,” added the judge.

“You are asked to leave the pub. Outside the pub there is a fight and punches are thrown. That fight happened minutes before you fatally injured Andrew Nicholas.

“Your paths crossed near the King’s Head. CCTV shows the two of you up close talking to each other. It’s very apparent that Mr Nicholas is very unsteady through drink.

“You say you accidentally bumped into him. You involved yourself in a hostile confrontation.

“At many points in the evening this terrible outcome could have been avoided. CCTV shows that Mr Nicholas threw a blow at you. He stepped back and there was a pause. You then moved forward and punched Mr Nicholas and attempted to land a second blow.

“He was floored by the first punch and the back of his head struck the pavement.”

Sending him to a Young Offenders’ Institution, the judge told Wainewright people had attested to his “positive qualities”, but added: “When you threw the punch you either intended some harm or were at least reckless as to whether harm would be caused.”

Wainewright was told he will be released on licence after two years.

His barrister Sarah Frances Jones KC, said her client was “ashamed”.

She said the rugby player was “a good sportsman, a team player, he earned his own money, he was a good partner, a good son, a good brother”.

But she added: “Now he is aware that none of those things are important after what he has done, because he is a killer…

“On the one night it mattered, he had taken drugs and he had been drinking, and a man died.”

He had not been “determined to fight” she said, but after gesturing for Mr Nicholas to leave, he had pursued him “briefly but catastrophically”.

A statement released by Gwent Police on behalf of the family of Mr Nicholas said: “The events of the 26 June that lead to Andrew’s death by the actions of another will be a pain that won’t ever heal.

“The trauma and destruction it has caused to so many of us, both family and friends, won’t ever be forgotten.

“We are pleased the individual responsible has been brought to justice and sentenced for his crime. His actions have caused damage beyond words and no sentence will ever be long enough.

“Andrew, known as Bandy, was a loving, passionate, hardworking, caring, and compassionate person who was loved by his family and friends and adored by his nieces who miss him terribly. He was widely respected throughout the golf community, and it has been described by his golf club and Dorset county golf as an irreplaceable loss.

“His funeral was attended by over 300 people which shows the love and respect that he held.

“As a family we would like to thank the officers from Gwent Police, Family Liaison Officer and the Crown Prosecution Service.”

Det Supt Nick Wilkie, the senior investigation officer, said: “This is a clear case of an altercation escalating to a horrific level of violence that resulted in Andrew Nicholas suffering fatal injuries.

“The circumstances of Mr Nicholas’ death should act as a warning to others as to how a senseless act of violence can have devastating consequences.

“As a result of Wainewright’s actions, Mr Nicholas was injured and never recovered, leaving the lives of his family and friends forever changed.”