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Beloved dad, 37, punched to death outside Wetherspoons by thug who 'felt disrespected'

Kyle OCallaghan, 30, has been jailed for punching and killing 37-year-old Marcus Carpenter outside a Wetherspoon pub in Ebbw Vale, Gwent, in February

A man has been jailed for punching and killing a beloved dad outside a Wetherspoon pub after he "felt disrespected".

Kyle OCallaghan, 30, previously pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Marcus Carpenter, 37, who died in hospital after being assaulted outside the Picture House in Ebbw Vale, Gwent, in February this year.

Judge Daniel Williams sentenced OCallaghan, of no fixed abode, to 10 years and six months in prison, with an extended licence period of four years.

Newport Crown Court heard that both Mr Carpenter and OCallaghan had visited the Picture House on the evening of February 20 with separate groups of friends.

[Kyle O'Callaghan]

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Kyle O'Callaghan, 30(Image: Gwent Police)

The court heard OCallaghan approached Mr Carpenter at around midnight, asking him "who are you then?" and telling him to follow him outside. It was in an alleyway outside the JD Wetherspoon pub that OCallaghan struck Mr Carpenter twice, "unprovoked", before fleeing the scene.

Mr Carpenter collapsed and was pronounced dead in hospital on February 24, having suffered severe head injuries.

Judge Williams said: "You headed to the table where Marcus Carpenter and his friends were, you recognised one of his friends from him working in a pub in Tredegar.

"You then approached Marcus Carpenter and asked who he was You had heard that Marcus Carpenter had been saying things about you to other people. You are very quick to think that youve been wronged by others, whatever the truth of the situation."

The court heard there "didnt appear to be any bad feeling" between the two men before Mr Carpenter followed OCallaghan outside. The judge said: "What happened outside the pub was caught on CCTV, you were spoiling for a fight, you felt disrespected."

Judge Williams said OCallaghan behaved "in an overbearing, aggressive and intimidating way towards Mr Carpenter, who at no stage was hostile, let alone aggressive," towards him. "But you were determined to harm Mr Carpenter, whatever he did, and however uninterested he was in engaging with you," the judge added.

CCTV footage played to the court showed the two men continuing to speak for several minutes before OCallaghan delivered a second punch. Mr Carpenter had his arms by his side when OCallaghan threw the "fatal, sickening blow" to his head.

The court heard that after Mr Carpenter collapsed, OCallaghan attempted to drag his body and slapped him before fleeing the scene. OCallaghan later told police he had acted in "self-defence", claiming Mr Carpenter had been aggressive towards him.

Judge Williams said: "Your selfishness seems limitless. You claimed at first to be acting in self-defence - it was, of course, nothing of the sort. Your actions have caused unimaginable grief, loss and sadness."

In a tribute issued after his death, Mr Carpenters family described him as a "beloved son, partner and dad". They said: "Marcus was one of a kind with the kindest of hearts who would help anyone out he could. His passing has left a massive hole in the lives of everyone close to him."

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