A MAN has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the "unprovoked" killing of a workmate with a single punch after an argument over football in a pub in Halesowen.

Dean Hartley struck Karl Swift with such a blow he suffered a broken jaw and was knocked unconscious before hitting the floor in New Road, Halesowen.

The pair and other co-workers - all from South Yorkshire - had been drinking at a pub in the town from the early evening of September 8 last year.

There was a disagreement between Hartley and Mr Swift which saw them ’square up’ and ended up with the victim leaving and the rest of the group being asked to leave just after 10pm.

As they walked back to their accommodation, father-of-two Mr Swift was ahead of the rest but Hartley caught him up and hit him - leaving the victim with a fractured skull.

He died in hospital two days later and Hartley initially denied any involvement in his death, claiming that it appeared 33-year-old Mr Swift had fallen onto the pavement.

Following police investigations he was interviewed again the following month where he admitted punching the victim but only in self-defence.

Hartley, 30, of Sheffield, was found guilty of manslaughter and perverting the cause of justice following a trial of almost two weeks at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison.

Detective Inspector Paul Joyce, from the force’s CID, said: "Mr Swift was left with a broken jaw and unconscious before he even hit the floor which shows the severity of the blow he suffered.

"Mr Swift had walked away following the previous pub dispute - which saw him slapped in the face by another member of the group - and had shown no signs of violence. It became clear from our investigations he had been assaulted in an unprovoked attack and we set about getting justice.

"Hartley initially lied over what happened and then tried to cover his actions by claiming he acted in self-defence. I am pleased the jury saw through these lies and he now faces time behind bars."