A TEENAGE killer was this afternoon locked up for four years for the one-punch manslaughter of a popular father-of-two outside his local pub.

Aaron Hayes was told by a judge that he had devastated the family of Spencer Freeman with his drink- and drug-fuelled attack on the 42-year-old.

Mr Freeman was felled with a single blow and suffered serious head injuries when he cracked his skull on the pavement, and died hours later.

Hayes, who was 19 at the time of the attack outside The Grenadier in Acklam, Middlesbrough, in April, was convicted of manslaughter after a trial.

Mr Freeman's widow, Michelle, 42, was with other members of his family and friends in the public gallery as Hayes was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court.

Judge Peter Fox, QC, told him: “I do not think you can imagine the devastation you have caused that family – you are not old enough, you do not have the experience of life to appreciate what you have done – but let me tell you, it is awful, and you should remember that.

“There is no turning the clock back, life and law moves forward, and my task is to pass a sentence to reflect what you did and reflect the consequences as well, at the same time weighing with such matters as your youth and the good in you.

“You were grossly affected by drink, and I think to some extent by drugs, and I dare say had you not been you would not have done anything like this.”

Robert Woodcock, QC, mitigating, said Hayes, now 20, of Topcliffe Road, Thornaby, near Stockton, has vowed to take classes to address his substance misuse while in prison.

He said: “He appears to have learned a dreadfully expensive lesson.”

Hayes had spent the day drinking at a Middlesbrough football match in Sheffield and taking cocaine before returning to Teesside where he attacked Mr Freeman outside of the pub – yards from his home.

Mr Freeman's widow said after Hayes' conviction two weeks ago her husband's death had destroyed the family “He didn't lead a violent life, and to die a violent death is wrong. There was no malice in him, whatsoever,” said Mrs Freeman, a former receptionist.

“I would like him to be portrayed as the man he was. He was a decent, hard-working, loyal, loving man who was up for a laugh and would do anything for anyone.”