A JUDGE condemned as “disgraceful cowards” people who refused to help a police investigation into the death of a man outside his local pub.

Judge Peter Fox, QC, said the victim’s family and the wider community “deserved better” than the apparent wall of silence met by detectives.

He made the comments as he jailed 20-year-old Aaron Hayes for four years for the manslaughter of father-oftwo Spencer Freeman, in April.

Mr Freeman, 42, died from serious head injuries, hours after being felled by a single punch near The Grenadier, in Acklam, Middlesbrough.

Hayes, from Thornaby, near Stockton, claimed he was acting in self-defence and denied manslaughter, but was convicted after a trial.

Even though no witnesses came forward to support the prosecution case that it was an unprovoked attack, the jury rejected Hayes’ account.

Judge Fox said there was “scant information” about exactly what happened because a number of bystanders would not help the police inquiry.

“Turning one’s back on something like this is wholly unacceptable,” he said.

“Police need every assistance and only the community can provide it.

“The conclusion I have reached is that it is a disgrace that the people who were there – and there must have been a number of them and they must have seen exactly what occurred in every detail – failed to assist the police in their inquiry.

“When the police turned up, they were there, and this community deserves better from such cowards who will not assist the police and bring people to justice, so that a jury, if necessary, may fully weigh the evidence and reach a proper and just conclusion.

“Things must improve in that regard.”

Sarah Mallett, prosecuting, described the police investigation as “frustrating” and said she hoped the judge’s comments would help in the future.

Outside the court, Mr Freeman’s widow, Michelle, 42, said she was sure many people knew exactly what happened but had not come forward.

Robert Woodcock, mitigating, said Hayes, of Topcliffe Road, Thornaby, was sorry for the devastation he had caused to the family.

He said he had vowed to work on his drink and drug misuse – he was drunk and fuelled by cocaine at the time of the attack – while in prison.

The court was told that Hayes has a previous conviction and a caution for assault, and a conviction for being drunk and disorderly.

Mr Woodcock said: “He has quite clearly finally learned that loutish, boorish and drunken and thug-like behaviour needs careful thought.”