'Pillar of our family' - Tribute to man who died in one-punch attack six days before his wedding

The family of a man killed in a one-punch attack have paid tribute to him as his attacker has been jailed for five years.

Harry Mannion was jailed at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday (Aug 13) having been found guilty of the manslaughter of Tony Powles.

Mr Powles, a man with whom he knew, was knocked unconscious in The Red Lion in Wakefield following the altercation in October last year.

He was due to be married six days after the fatal blow was delivered. He never regained consciousness and died in hospital weeks later.

Mannion was handed a five-year sentence. His claims of self defence were rejected by the jury during a six-day trial in June.

It said: ““Tony, our dad; was so much more than just a victim in this case.

“He was a father to his four children, a brother to his only sibling, an uncle to his niece and nephew, and a grandfather to his six grandchildren.

“He was the absolute pillar of our family, known for his kindness, his humour, and most of all, his unwavering love and guidance.

“We look at his picture and still talk to him out loud, knowing he won't talk back. we say, 'Good night, Dad, I love you.'

“It crushes our soul to know that we will never get to hug him or hear him say 'I love you' back ever again.

“It wasn't just heart breaking news we received in that hospital; it was a life sentence, leaving us breathless, broken, and trapped in a nightmare we can never wake up from.”

The court heard that Mr Powles, who has four children and six grandchildren, was a regular at the Batley Road pub. He knew 28-year-old Mannion, who was in a relationship with the landlady.

On the evening of October 9 last year, Mr Powles and his family had gone to the pub for drink. His daughter was offered the chance to help out behind the bar with a view to landing a job, but Mannion took exception.

A short time later a phone charger behind the bar belonging to Mannion was used by Mr Powles’ sister, to which again he was unhappy about.

Prosecutor Matthew Harding said words were exchanged and “matters escalated” with Mr Powles and Mannion facing each other.

Mr Powles grabbed the charger and threw it. He then aimed a headbutt at Mannion before others intervened to separate them.

But around a minute later, Mannion aimed a powerful punch at Mr Powles’ head. He fell and struck and hit his head on the hard floor next to the bar.

Mannion, of Springfield Grange, Wakefield, did not leave the scene and “showed concern” for his actions, the court heard.

Mr Powles was rushed to hospital with a catastrophic brain injury.

He could not be saved and his family had to take the devastating decision to turn off his life-support machine on October 22.

Mitigating, Charles Blatchford described the events of that night as “simply tragic”.

He said despite Mannion’s denial of unlawfully killing Mr Powles, he had expressed remorse about that night.

He said he was sorry for his family and that there had been no premeditation in the attack.

He added: “He says he is haunted by the events of that night. He wakes at night and all he can think about it what happened.”

As well as his jail sentence, Mannion was given a lifelong restraining order to keep him away from members of Mr Powles’ family.

Judge Simon Phillips told him: “There was no immediate danger. It was retaliation by you, in drink, for what had gone on moments before.

“It was a full and forceful blow against a 62-year-old person, delivered without warning to a man whose arms were by his side.

“You will bear the burden for the rest of your life for taking the life of a man whom you knew and had been on friendly terms.”