We've got justice, say family after killer jailed

Violent drunk Ben Wesley, who killed soldier Robert Pears (25) with a single punch that caused his head to “crack like an egg” on the pavement, was given an indeterminate jail term to protect the public.

Wesley (24)—who had a string of cautions for late-night drunken assaults and had served six months in prison for battery—admitted manslaughter, although Judge Roger Keen said that he had lied in a letter to the court before being sentenced.

His close friend David Chadwick (22), who kicked and stamped on Mr Pears’ head shortly after he hit the ground, was jailed for a for two years for assault and affray plus a further two years and eight months for breaking a man’s jaw in another drunken incident four months earlier, for which he was on bail.

Mr Pears’ partner Kelly Denton gave birth to their daughter Mia a few days after his life support machine was switched off.

After the sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday, Robert’s mother Sheila Ward (46) said: “We think we got justice. We don’t want any vengeance. We don’t blame the other families.

“We’ve all got to do what we can to put our lives back together. We’ve got his daughter and other kids to think about now.

“When she grows up we will tell her about all the good times she would have had with him growing up.”

Stepfather Martyn Ward said: “Whatever the judge had given him it would not have fetched Robert back.”

Older brother David Robson added: “The court has recognised that Wesley is dangerous but it is a shame it took Robert to die for that to happen.”

Robert’s twin Craig, who was also assaulted in a fight just before his brother was killed, left the court too upset to speak.

Chadwick—who had also received cautions for violence—and Wesley, both from Mexborough, were initially arrested on suspicion of murder over the attack outside the Boy and Barrel pub in Mexborough at around 3.15am in August last year.

Wesley will be able to apply for parole after two years, less the 292 days he has spent in custody on remand.

But Judge Keen warned that he “may well be in prison for a very long time indeed.”

The judge told him: “I have to ask myself whether there is any genuine remorse in your case. I find it very difficult to see any long-lasting emotion of that kind.

“Even today you have asked your counsel to hand in a letter which continues a totally lying account of  how this man met his death. That death had a devastating effect on Kelly Denton and his family.”

After the attack, Wesley and Chadwick were captured on CCTV allegedly re-enacting the fight with swinging fists and head actions.

Wesley is also said to be kissing both biceps, although this is disputed.