Man jailed for killing a man in Preston with a single punch
Paul Ellerker admitted manslaughter
A MAN has been jailed for four years and three months after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Jonathan Palgrave in Preston.
Paul Ellerker admitted the killing at Preston Crown Court.
Police were called to The Clifton Hotel on Fishergate Hill, near Preston train station, back in May following a report that a man had collapsed.
Mr Palgrave, 35, of Preston was taken by ambulance to Royal Preston Hospital where he sadly later died.
A post mortem showed he died of a head injury.
Police discovered that Mr Palgrave had been assaulted two days earlier. CCTV revealed Ellerker punching him once in the head, before he fell to the floor.
Ellerker, 30, who also lived at The Clifton Hotel, was arrested on suspicion of murder on May 23rd but later charged with manslaughter.
"It should serve as a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences which can result from a single punch."
His Honour Judge Mark Brown praised the thorough police investigation in reviewing hours of CCTV footage to confirm exactly when Mr Palgrave sustained his fatal injuries.
Det Chief Insp Richard McCutcheon, of FMIT, said: “This is a tragic case where Mr Palgrave lost his life as a result of Paul Ellerker’s reckless and violent behaviour.
“It should serve as a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences which can result from a single punch.