A man who killed his father by pushing him over in a pub beer garden on Christmas Eve has been jailed for six years.
Martin Greensmith became angry when he learned Steven Shevels was his father and violently pushed him over in the Queen’s Head beer garden in Willington.
The 37-year-old was convicted of manslaughter after a trial at Teesside Crown Court last month.
Judge Jonathan Carroll jailed Greensmith for six years and said Mr Shevels posed no physical threat inside the pub.
Jurors heard how the 61-year-old was asked to leave the pub after becoming a nuisance to the Greensmith family.
Within minutes, Mr Shevels had been pushed over and cracked his skull on the concrete floor in the garden.
Despite efforts by paramedics and pubgoers, including the defendant’s mother, Mr Shevels suffered fatal head injuries.
Judge Carroll said: “It is clear that he had been drinking earlier in the day and was under the influence.
“There were several minor exchanges between him and your family before he came to sit down near you.
“At some point, you were told by your mother that Mr Shevels was your father – you did not know this before.
“He said something that you objected to. The CCTV shows your reaction; you were immediately angry and aggressive.
“Your face and body language make that clear.”
Greensmith went into the beer garden, where he remained angry and smashed a beer glass, the judge said.
Judge Carroll said Greensmith could have returned to the pub without trouble but instead approached Mr Shevels as he smoked outside after being told to leave.
“The jury, rightly, rejected your claim of self-defence,” he said. “Mr Shevels was not a violent man and was presenting absolutely no threat to you.
“You walked right up to him and delivered an aggressive and powerful push to his upper body. He immediately fell backwards with no meaningful chance to avoid your push or break his fall.
“He struck the back of his head against the concrete floor with considerable force. It was so loud it was heard from inside the pub.”
Greensmith’s mother, Angela, performed CPR on Mr Shevels until paramedics arrived and took over. He was declared dead an hour later.
During the trial, jurors saw CCTV footage of exchanges between Mr Shevels and Greensmith’s mother before he barged into Mr Shevels at the bar.
Police outside the Queen's Head in Willington on Christmas day
Greensmith then made an obscene hand gesture at Mr Shevels before his mother and uncle intervened and moved him away.
Pathologist Jennifer Bolton told the court that Mr Shevels suffered a cardiac arrest while unconscious and never regained consciousness.
Prosecutor Jolyon Perks said Mr Shevels’ death devastated his family.
Mr Shevels’ estranged daughter Chloe learned of his death on Christmas Day while opening presents.
She said she made the ‘regrettable’ choice that she needed space and lost contact with him for several years.
His sister, Angela Thompson, says the death of another sister had a devastating impact on him but never sought help to process his loss.
She said losing their parents further devastated her brother.
Paul Rooney, representing Greensmith, said he was now suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and struggling with his mental health.
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He said: “In his pre-sentence report, he was physically distressed and emotional throughout the interview.
“He was genuinely remorseful and emotionally affected by the consequences of his actions.”
The fall, rather than an underlying heart condition, caused Mr Shevels’ death, pathologist Jennifer Bolton told the court.
Greensmith, of Rockingham Road, Sunnybrow, Willington, was convicted by a 10-2 majority after almost six hours of jury deliberations.