A MAN who killed a North-East football fan with a single "haymaker" punch has had his prison sentence cut by the Court of Appeal.

Maurice Rowell struck Stephen Wilson outside The Beehive, a pub in Bishop Auckland, following a row over a football match early on August 10.

Witnesses heard a "crack" when Mr Wilson fell to the ground and his skull hit the concrete. He died in hospital the next day from severe brain swelling and acute haemorrhaging.

Twenty-seven year old Rowell was found guilty of manslaughter at Teesside Crown Court in December and was jailed by Judge Peter Fox for seven years.

But today at a Court of Appeal hearing his jail term was cut to six years.

Judge Peter Rook told the court mistakes were made when Judge Fox decided the facts on which Rowell was to be sentenced.

In reaching the controversial decision The Appeal Court decided the blow did not constitute a directed attack.

But Susan Barker, Mr Wilson's sister, said: "I don't think the sentence was long enough and it definitely should not have been cut."

to suggest that the camera had been deliberately turned off preceding this assault.”

He said: “Given that the judge did fall into error as far as certain factual conclusions are concerned, not least that this attack was directed, we feel that seven years was manifestly excessive.”

Mr Wilson’s mother, Maureen, who lived with her son in the town’s Hardisty Crescent, backed The Northern Echo’s Price of a Punch campaign.

The campaign was launched after the court case of soldier Andrew Gibson, who was killed by a single punch during a night out.

His killer, John Flannigan, 17, was jailed for two-and-a half years after he admitted manslaughter.

Mrs Wilson said: “I do think they should get longer. The law always seems to be on the side of the criminal.”

Mr Wilson’s organs were donated for transplant. His heart was successfully given to a seriously ill patient who has since made an excellent recovery.