A pub regular who killed a grandfather with a single punch after his ‘creepy’ advances to a woman on a night out were rejected is facing jail after being convicted of manslaughter.
Unemployed Nathan Gothard, 37, was ‘wound up like a coiled spring’ when he ‘poleaxed’ David Darke, 66, who suffered a fatal brain injury when his head hit the ground.
He then ‘celebrated’ the punch and was seen ‘bouncing’ around on his toes after delivering the fatal blow, prosecutors said.
Leicester Crown Court heard Gothard attacked Mr Darke to ‘save his own face’ after being rebuffed by the woman and then losing a fight outside a village pub.
He was said to have wanted ‘revenge’ after he was earlier knocked to the ground outside The Crown Inn in Appleby Magna, Leicestershire by Mr Darke’s colleague.
Gothard, who lived with his uncle yards from the pub, had denied murder and manslaughter, arguing he was acting in self defence.
He was convicted by jurors on Thursday of the less serious offence after around two and a half hours of deliberations.
Mr Darke’s family shouted ‘yes’ as the verdict was delivered.
Gothard, who stood in the dock with his head bowed, was remanded in custody. He will be sentenced on May 22.
His Honour Judge William John Hirons Harbage KC told him: ‘You have been convicted on manslaughter. It is a very serious offence in itself and you can expect a significant custodial sentence as a result.’
Nathan Gothard, 37, Gothard said he did not intend to cause Mr Darke serious harm but knew he had when he heard the sound his head made when it hit the ground.
Mr Darke’s family said his life had been ‘tragically cut short’ and he would be ‘sorely missed by all who knew and loved him’
Mr Darke had tried to help Gothard back to his feet after the initial fight, jurors were told, but was punched in the face causing him to fall backwards onto the ground suffering a fractured skull and bleed on the brain just days before Christmas.
He died in hospital six days later on December 27 when his organs were donated.
Mr Darke’s family, who were sitting in the public gallery, wept as the verdicts were delivered.
They had described him as a ‘deeply-loved father to three daughters’ and proud grandfather to three boys as well as a much-loved brother and a dear friend.
His family said he was ‘strong, active, intelligent and kind person who had a ‘deep passion for life, the outdoors, nature and walking.’
Leicester Crown Court heard Gothard, who was a regular at the pub, had been drinking there since 4pm on the day of the attack.
Mr Darke arrived later with a group of colleagues from a nearby Best Western hotel for a Christmas night out.
Jurors have been told that Gothard started behaving inappropriately, making unwelcome advances and remarks to women in the Best Western group, and made it clear to them ‘it was his terrain – they were in his pub’.
The court heard the atmosphere was ‘menacing, threatening, argumentative and disputing’ because of Gothard’s behaviour.
One woman, who was with the Best Western group, said Gothard was ‘staring’ at her in a ‘creepy’ way making her feel uncomfortable after she had declined his offer of a drink.
The pub landlady and her partner said they had tried to calm Gothard down and had taken him outside. They said they tried to make him go home but he refused.
Peter Joyce KC, prosecuting, described Gothard as an ‘oaf’ who ‘behaved boorishly, odiously, and with contempt for everyone except his own sense of dignity and pride that night.
He said: ‘David Darke is dead because this oaf decided to hit him rather than walk round him.’
Jurors were told he had been ‘riling, irritating and niggling’ and wanted a fight.
Mr Joyce said: ‘He had a fight with Ty Fern. The fight he had with Ty Fern he lost – he picked it and he lost it. He was knocked down and he was kicked and he was injured in the face
‘He could have gone home then,’ Mr Joyce added. He said Mr Darke then picked him up and helped him to his feet but he carried on
Mr Joyce said: ‘The defendant in his rage after losing the fight that he had picked with Ty Fearn, he attacked Mr Darke to save his own face. And he hit him so hard that he killed him.’
CCTV from outside of the pub shows Gothard being knocked to the ground and kicked. Mr Darke then reaches down and appears to pull him up by his arm.
Moments later, in an area not caught on CCTV he was punched. He can then be seen lying unconscious on the floor.
Mr Joyce said: having lost the fight Gothard ‘wanted revenge’.
‘Having lost face he wanted it back – he attacked David Darke,’ he said.
‘And he punched him so hard that he was knocked straight to the ground.’
Witnesses said Mr Darke did nothing to stop his fall.
Gothard was then caught on CCTV walking home with his uncle – leaving others to attend to stricken Mr Darke.
Gothard argued he acted in self defence and felt intimidated by Mr Darke, who he said had threatened to ‘bury him’.
He said he ‘lashed out’ at Mr Darke with a ‘preemptive stike’ as he feared he was going to be attacked.
Gothard said he did not intend to cause Mr Darke serious harm but knew he had when he heard the sound his head made when it hit the ground.
Detective Inspector Kevin Hames, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) Murder Investigation Team, said: ‘In those fateful few moments a family have been left devastated, and the perpetrator now faces a lengthy term in prison.
‘Gothard’s actions that day could have been avoided if he had just walked away. This case highlights how one-punch encounters can result in the loss of life.
‘Dave’s family have shown immense courage throughout the investigation and legal process; this has been in no way easy for them.
‘We hope this outcome now helps them to come to terms with the events of that night and the loss of their loved one.’
