Cambridge man handed suspended sentence for manslaughter

A man who admitting killing a man by pulling him over in a Cambridge pub has been handed a suspended sentence.

Martin Hicks, 52, of Edgecombe, Cambridge, got into a heated exchange with John Troup at the bar of The Ship pub, Northfield Avenue, at about 11pm on 26 November, 2022

Hicks grabbed Mr Troup’s arm and pulled him backwards, causing him to lose his footing, fall and hit his head on the wooden floor.

Mr Troup was instantly knocked out and customers rushed to carry out first aid while the landlord told Hicks to leave.

Arriving at the scene, officers found medics treating the victim, who was rushed to hospital.

Mr Troup never fully regained consciousness and on 15 December, 2022, he died in hospital from his injuries.

Hicks was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter four days later.

A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Troup had died of a “blunt force head injury as the result of an accelerated fall on to the back of the head”.

In police interview, Hicks, who had drunk at least eight pints before the incident, said he remembered talking to the victim, but couldn’t recall the incident, which had been captured on CCTV.

On Monday at Cambridge Crown Court, Hicks received a one year and three-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, 200 hours’ unpaid work and a drink rehabilitation order, after admitting manslaughter.

DC Chris Ladyman, who investigated, said: “In that split second Hicks lashed out and unintentionally took someone’s life.

“Our sympathies are with Mr Troup’s family and friends who have been left bereft by this tragic incident.

“This is a stark reminder that people need to think about their actions and potential consequences before they get involved in a fight. Please remember the most sensible thing to do is turn around and walk away.”