A thug who killed a loving grandfather when he attacked him in a pub beer garden has been locked up.

Curtis Tudor headbutted Carl James before delivering a devastating right hook as he tried to get up from the floor and he hit his head on a wooden table when he collapsed from the blow.

The 42-year-old died following an incident at the Jack and Jill pub on Crossfell Road, Middlesbrough, in May this year.

CCTV footage captured the fatal incident in the pub beer garden which showed Mr James sitting next to the defendant before violence erupted.

The court heard how the pair had a ‘bit of chew’ earlier in the day before Tudor told the father-of-five to ‘f** off’ and then seconds later launched the fatal assault.

Carl JamesCarl James (Image: Cleveland Police)

Sentencing Tudor, Judge Francis Laird KC said: “There was an exchange of words, you were heard to tell Carl James to ‘f*** off, just get away from me, f*** off’.

“Then from a sitting position and without warning or provocation, you headbutted Carl James to the left side of his forehead with sufficient force to knock him off the bench onto the ground.

“As he was trying to get up you punched him to the head, you intended to continue the assault upon him but you were restrained by other customers. You were dragged away and held until you had calmed down.

“Meanwhile Carl James collapsed on the ground, as he did so he struck his head on the table as he fell.”

The Jack and Jill pub in MiddlesbroughThe Jack and Jill pub in Middlesbrough (Image: Terry Blackburn)

The court heard how paramedics arrived on the scene shortly after the assault and transferred Mr James to hospital where it was discovered he had suffered a severe haemorrhage and he died days later without regaining consciousness.

Judge Laird told Tudor that no sentence he could pass could reflect the "value or worth of his life" which had been "cruelly snatched away from him".

Curtis TudorCurtis Tudor (Image: Cleveland Police)

Tudor was sentenced to six years in prison.

The 26-year-old, of Welburn Grove, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to manslaughter following the violence shortly before 6pm on Saturday, May 11.

The court heard Tudor had three convictions for six offences, including attacking two men in March this year, one of whom he punched repeatedly to the head and the other to the chest and throat.

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Yesterday, his heartbroken family described Carl, known affectionately as Frankie, as a loving and caring man who always made others smile.

His brother, Anthony, fought back tears as he read out his victim impact statement.

He said: “He was a much-loved member of a large family and was also loving, not afraid to show it to anyone he knew.

“He always gave everyone a hug and told them he loved them. He would do anything for anyone.”