A TEENAGER who killed a young businessman during a row over a chip has been found guilty of manslaughter.

Michael Kennedy, 19, punched company director Dean Windle during a night out in Newcastle city centre last November.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Mr Windle, 26, a Newcastle University graduate who had the world at his feet, had been out celebrating a birthday with three friends.

As they made their way to Central Station for a taxi, the group began throwing chips at each other.

A chip hit Kennedy's girlfriend.

Michael Hodson, prosecuting, told the court: "They were having fun and being a little boisterous, throwing chips at each other, not anyone else.

"One of the chips hit the girlfriend with whom this defendant was in company.

"The defendant said 'You've just hit my lass with a f****** chip."

The court heard how one of Dean's friends tried to apologise to Kennedy, while Kennedy's girlfriend also prompted him to let the matter drop.

But Kennedy would not be pacified.

Mr Hodson said: "The defendant was saying 'I will take you all, one by one'.

"Dean Windle walked over and he too offered his hand and said 'Sorry mate'. The next thing he was on the ground."

Mr Windle's head struck railings as he fell. He was taken to hospital, but died from multiple head injuries.

He was a computer games designer and a director of Dean Windle Consultants and Paul Windle Design, a creative art studio in Jesmond, Newcastle.

Kennedy, of Felling, Gates-head, denied manslaughter, but the jury took only half-an-hour to find him guilty.

He will be sentenced on June 15.