THE widow of a man who died after being attacked by a teenager outside a pub has backed The Northern Echo's calls for tougher sentences for one-punch killers.

Aaron Hayes was yesterday convicted of the manslaughter of darts team captain Spencer Freeman, 42, close to his local in Acklam, Middlesbrough, in April.

Mr Freeman's wife, Michelle, told last night how his needless death has “destroyed” the lives of those close to the “decent, hard-working, loyal and loving man”.

Hayes, now 20, had spent the day drinking, taking drugs and at a football match before he attacked Mr Freeman outside of The Grenadier – yards from his home.

During an eight-day trial at Teesside Crown Court, he claimed he struck in self-defence – but his claims were rejected by the jury which returned a guilty verdict on a majority of 11 to one.

Speaking afterwards, Mrs Freeman said: “My husband was attacked. We have had to listen to the account of Aaron Hayes – and nobody else – but I don't think he remembers that much of it . . . it is a night I will never forget.

“Spencer didn't lead a violent life, and to die a violent death is wrong. There was no malice in him, whatsoever. He was a decent, hard-working, loyal, loving man who was up for a laugh and would do anything for anyone.”

Sports fan Mr Freeman was a self-employed mechanic but more recently worked with his brother in the family-run conservatory business as a site manager.

His 42-year-old widow backed the Price of a Punch campaign which calls for tougher sentences and greater awareness of the dangers of violence.

She said: “My children are devastated they have lost their dad. I am not getting my husband back, but Aaron Hayes will still be half Spencer's age when he comes out of prison.

“It doesn't give me any satisfaction to see a young lad get sent down, but when I think about what that young lad has done, he deserves it.

“Our lives are destroyed. He has destroyed our lives and he will never, ever know what he has done to use by that single act.

“Yes, I want justice for my husband, but if he got 40 years it would not bring him back. I do agree sentencing is far too short and should be looked at.

“He (Hayes) is a young enough man to come out and have just the normal things – be a dad, a granddad, get married, have a party, enjoy time with your family.

“All of that has been taken away from us because he chose to hit my husband in the street. He doesn't realise how widespread the effect is. It is so far-reaching “There is a consequence to things you do. He has learned he can't go around whacking people. Hopefully, other young teenagers will learn from it.”

Detective Chief Inspector John Green, of Cleveland Police, said after the case: “Sadly, so-called one punch deaths are becoming more frequent.

“It should serve as a stark warning that a moment’s loss of self-control can have a tragic and far reaching outcome and that perpetrators could receive a lengthy prison sentence.”

Hayes, of Topcliffe Road, Thornaby, near Stockton, will be sentenced in a fortnight after the Judge Peter Fox, QC, asked for background reports to be prepared.

The Northern Echo launched its Price of a Punch campaign to demand tougher sentences for one-punch killers and to reinforce the message to drinkers that one punch is enough to kill.

It came after John Flannigan, 17, from Darlington, who was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after admitting the manslaughter of 19-year-old Scots Guardsman Andrew Gibson during a night out in Darlington in December 2009, and the prevelance of similar cases.

A spokesman for the Sentencing Council, which changed its guidelines for assault cases, said there were no current plans to look at manslaughter cases.

The Attorney General, which has the power to ask for sentences to be referred to the Court of Appeal, denied a call by the Crown Prosecution Service to look into the sentence against Flanningan, because his term fell into the guidelines.

In December 2009, the Attorney General welcomed new guidelines following two separate appeals.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “The maximum sentence for manslaughter is life imprisonment.

“In 2009 the Court of Appeal ruled that it is not realistic to treat cases of ‘one punch manslaughter’ identically as the circumstances of each case vary. Sentencing decisions are therefore based on the individual circumstances of each case and each offender.”