A man who fatally injured a grandfather by punching him in the face as he tried to break up a fight has been jailed. Ethan Cockram, 21, of Durham Street, Wallsend, North Tyneside, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at a hearing last month and was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday.
The court heard that Cockram had been to Ladies Day at Newcastle Racecourse in July last year and had carried on drinking in pubs in Newcastle City Centre. During the night out, the then 19-year-old met two others, Shayne Cook and Lola Charlton, and the trio formed part of a larger group that walked past Simon Beston and his partner on St Andrew's Street, in the city's Chinatown area.
A fight broke out and Mr Beston, a 55-year-old grandfather from Sunderland, tried to act as a peacemaker. But Cockram, who had been drinking vodka all day, suddenly lashed out at Mr Beston and punched him with such force to the side of the face that he broke his jaw and knocked him unconscious. Mr Beston fell backwards and struck his head on a kerb, causing catastrophic injuries.
Details of the attack
Mr Beston and his partner Maxine Greenwood had been on a romantic night out in the city centre and had stopped to give money and talk to a homeless couple on St Andrew's Street as they made their way home at around 10.15pm. A group of young people "all dressed in their racing finery", which included the three defendants, then walked past.
Emma Dowling, prosecuting, told the court that CCTV showed Cockram shoving an unknown male wearing a grey shirt forcefully into a white Mercedes vehicle. Cook then also got involved, approaching the same unknown male and punching him. It was this, the prosecution said, that caused Mr Beston to intervene.
The court heard that Mr Beston, along with other members of the group, tried to "calm things down" before turning to walk away. Cockram and Mr Beston initially "exchanged words" but Cockram calmed down and also appeared to start to walk off. A verbal altercation then broke out between Mr Beston's partner and one of the young women in the group, which culminated in Charlton "propelling" the victim's girlfriend to the ground.
Fatal punch and aftermath
Mr Beston went to protect his partner and both he and Charlton also fell to the floor. Miss Dowling said: "Shayne Cook rushes in. We can see him running towards people on the ground and he kicks three times, deliberately, into Simon Beston while he's on the ground. At the same time, Lola Charlton is kicking out at Simon Beston, grabbing him and shouting at him and she has to be pulled away from this disgraceful episode by others in the group."
Mr Beston was helped to his feet by someone in the group before Cockram struck. Miss Dowling added: "Ethan Cockram approached Simon Beston from the side and punched him with his left hand, making contact with his left cheek. Simon Beston's legs gave way and he fell backwards and the rear of his head makes contact with the kerb of the pavement. The group, including the three defendants, leave the area."
Mr Beston was left unconscious, bleeding from the head and "clearly badly injured". A passing nurse, who was on a night out, and door staff helped the grandfather before paramedics arrived and he was taken to hospital. It was found that he had suffered a cut to the head, a broken jaw, a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain. Despite surgery, his condition deteriorated and he died on August 16, three weeks after the attack.
Sentencing and background
The court heard that Cockram was on bail for attacking two strangers in Newcastle City Centre at the time he punched Mr Beston. That attack happened in April 2025, where he punched two men whilst on a night out. He caused a "significant wound" to one of the victims and was given a suspended sentence for wounding without intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in November last year. Cook and Charlton had no past convictions.
Josh Normanton, representing Cockram, said he suffered from autism and ADHD and had attended a special educational needs school. Mr Normanton said: "He is someone that, due to his personal circumstances, is unequipped to deal with the profound nature of what his conduct has brought about but he is able to say sorry. And he is deeply sorry. He thinks about what has happened all the time from his prison cell and will continue to think about it - he's haunted by it." Mr Normanton said it was "a single punch by a drunk person" and that it was impulsive, adding that Cockram came to the North East with his mother and brother as they were fleeing domestic violence at the hands of his father.
Matthew Purves, representing Charlton, said she was deeply remorseful, young and immature and had a complex background. He said: "She didn't contribute to the death but contributed to the incident that, thereafter, led to the incident that led to the death." Claire Anderson, defending Cook, said he was diagnosed with ADHD as a child and also attended a special educational needs school, adding that he lives a relatively quiet lifestyle these days and doesn't go out.
Jailing Cockram for four years and 10 months, Judge Edward Bindloss said: "Ethan Cockram picks up a ladies hat from the road. He's clearly drunk. He then walks over and punches the deceased once. It's not a running punch and there's no weapon used. After Mr Beston goes to the ground, there is no follow-up blow, although there was an opportunity for him to do so. I accept that it was a forceful punch so that Mr Beston was unconscious before he hit the ground. My reading of the CCTV is that this was more impulsive rather than premeditated."
Speaking of both attacks, Judge Bindloss added: "Four different victims, four punches, all in drink, all in the city centre at night. On both evenings, you left the scene. I do find him dangerous of causing significant harm to members of the public with further specified offences if in drink and in a similar situation." He said he was not going to pass an extended sentence due to Cockram's "youth and immaturity" and because he had been complying with his suspended sentence.
Cook was jailed for 18 months and Charlton was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months. Judge Bindloss said: "Their conduct set in train the events that led to Ethan Cockram's conduct, which led to the fatal blow. That makes it a much more serious affray." Charlton was also ordered to complete a mental health liaison treatment requirement and must do 120 hours of unpaid work.
