Yorkshire pub landlords' son but killed a customer of his parents' pub in a one-punch attack on the street outside is jailed
CCTV footage from inside the pub on Thirsk Market Place showed Mr Barefoot, who had arrived at around 5.30pm, sitting on a stool at the bar at 9.45pm. An ‘animated’ conversation then began before Mark Calvert pushed Mr Barefoot off the stool. He did not retaliate and was ushered towards the exit by a group of men, who all then fell over onto the street, injuring a young woman whom they landed on top of.
Witnesses then saw Benjamin Calvert being restrained by his parents and his mother shouting at him to stop before he escaped their grip and struck Mr Barefoot to the side of his head with a closed fist. One woman described the sound his head made as it struck the ground as ‘like a coconut smashing’ and he was instantly unconscious. He died in hospital eight days later from a catastrophic brain injury.
Victim impact statements were read out from Mr Barefoot’s mother Karen Banks, partner Charlotte Dickinson and 16-year-old sister. He had become a father to his daughter Willow shortly before his death, and was on his first night out since her birth. He also had three sons from previous relationships.Karen Banks said: “I know he could be a bit of a rogue but he was taken too soon. I hoped he would be burying me, not the other way round. I feel like they are getting away lightly for taking a life.
Charlotte Dickinson, who had been in a relationship with him for around a year, said: “It was love at first sight for us. He wanted to turn his life around and he was open and honest about his past. He always wanted a baby girl and he was so protective of me. He was a hands-on daddy and we had so many plans.”