A decorated former British Army sergeant major died from internal injuries after a drunken argument over chicken wings in a pub beer garden turned fatal.
A Tragic Night at The Stag
Paul Ainscough, 57, a former Regimental Sergeant Major who served for 24 years, had been drinking with friend Liam Slack, 34, at The Stag pub in Leyland, Lancashire on 22 June. By 7.30pm, both men were intoxicated in the establishment's garden.
Witnesses told Preston Crown Court that Paul had bought some chicken wings. After finishing his own, Slack grabbed at Paul's remaining food, sparking a heated argument. Slack then threw a rucksack belonging to Paul before shoving him forcefully in the chest, sending him 'flying' backwards.
The Fatal Fall and Aftermath
One onlooker described how Slack pushed Paul 'clean over'. Another witness said Paul fell backwards, knocking a table about a foot before landing on a stone step. Paul got up, telling others Slack 'couldn't hold his beer' and that he wouldn't lend him any more money.
As he left the pub, Slack admitted to pushing his friend over, saying he 'shouldn't have done it'. He later shared a taxi to Chorley, telling two women he had pushed his friend during a row about food, unaware he had inflicted deadly injuries.
Paul returned to his home in Eccleston, told his partner about the argument, and walked his dogs at 9.20pm. The next day, Slack texted an apology, claiming Paul was 'properly in my face'. Paul replied: "You were a right tw*t and grabbed my chicken. You attacked me and pushed me into a wooden fence, breaking my ribs. I could hardly move."
A Life Lost and a Sentence Passed
On Monday morning, Paul complained of abdominal pain and requested an ambulance. His partner, who had seen him the previous evening, initially thought he was suffering from a hangover. She left him asleep on the sofa around lunchtime to walk his dogs. Upon returning shortly before 4pm, she found him unresponsive.
Emergency services rushed to the flat but Paul was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination revealed he had suffered three broken ribs and died from internal bleeding.
Slack, of Langton Brow, Chorley, learned of his friend's death and immediately feared he was responsible. In a police interview, he admitted snatching the food and throwing the rucksack. He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
At sentencing, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Robert Altham, told Slack: "Mr Ainscough was a kind, generous and thoughtful man who was well regarded by those who knew him. He had a proud past... What a proud and precious life to have been taken by such a thoughtless act of violence."
The judge noted Slack's 'genuine and immediate remorse' and that the attack was not premeditated, but said his drunkenness and known aggressive tendencies were aggravating factors. Liam Slack was jailed for four years and two months.
In a victim impact statement, Paul's son Mark said: "Our Dad/Paul was our hero and the person who loved us more than anyone in the world. He was a proud granddad... Our dad was a Regimental Sergeant Major in the British Army where he served his country for 24 years with courage and honour."
