Curtis Tudor caged for manslaughter of adored dad Carl James after 'very violent' beer garden attack

A pub goer who fatally headbutted a man to the ground, and then punched him in the head as he tried to get up - has been jailed for manslaughter.

Curtis Tudor, 26, was dragged away from the attack by other drinkers in the beer garden of The Jack and Jill pub, in Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough on the evening of May 11. The victim Carl James, a dad-of-five, lay collapsed on the ground, as people tried to administer first aid.

He had hit his head on a table as he collapsed, and he was rushed to James Cook University Hospital, where a CT scan showed that he had suffered a large haemorrhage. Mr James, 42, died three days later.

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The court previously heard that the two men had "a chew" between them and "words had been exchanged earlier that day." Mr James sat down next to Tudor in the beer garden, when Tudor told him to "f*** off" and "get away, from me." Pub CCTV showed Tudor headbutted Mr James, without warning.

On Friday morning, Tudor appeared at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced. Judge Francis Laird said that he had listened to Mr James's brother and partner speak "in glowing terms of a well-liked generous man - generous not only in terms of his money, but with his time and affection."

The judge said that Mr James's death "has left a sad and terrible void in the family. He was a much-loved son, brother, partner, dad and grandad."

Tudor was on bail for attacking two men in the street, weeks earlier on March 27.

The judge said that he accepted that the attack on Mr James was not premeditated, "but your assault was very violent, and carried out with the intention to cause a significant injury."

Tudor, of of Welburn Grove, Ormesby in Middlesbrough, was jailed for six years.

After the sentencing Superintendent Wendy Tinkler, from Cleveland Police, said: “The injuries inflicted on Carl were so severe that he sadly passed away in hospital. Tudor’s reckless actions that day have had a devastating and life-changing impact on Carl’s family.

“I’d like to thank Carl’s family for the courage and strength they have shown throughout this process. No sentence can ever bring Carl back, but I hope they can find some comfort in the fact that Tudor is now in prison where he is unable to hurt anyone else.”

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