A MAN whose victim died 18 months after being attacked faces a lengthy prison sentence -thanks to a change in the law introduced after a campaign by The Northern Echo.

The move by Northumbria Police is believed to be the first use of the new legislation, brought in to replace the outdated Year and a Day rule. The rule had said attackers could not be charged with murder or manslaughter if their victims lived for more than 366 days.

Keith Joseph Stephenson, 21, of Whinbrooke, Leam Lane Estate, Gateshead, was originally charged with grevious bodily harm in August 2002 - which he admitted.

He had attacked Charles Ratcliffe, 39, of Shaw Crescent, Wardley, Gateshead, hitting him on the head with a piece of wood as he walked over the King George V playing fields in Gateshead in August 2002.

Stephenson was given 100 hours' community punishment, a two-year community rehabilitation order and was told to pay £2,000 compensation.

But Mr Ratcliffe later developed epilepsy and died after a fit in February last year -leading police to use the new laws to charge Stephenson with manslaughter.

Stephenson has now been found guilty and will be sentenced on April 27 after psychiatric reports have been prepared.

Claire Paczko, of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said the case - which had to be referred to the Attorney General - was the first in the Northumbria Police area.

She said: "They are fairly unusual, because victims of violent crime are usually aware of the damage earlier than 12 months.

"It just doesn't happen that often - but sometimes it takes a long time for the effects of the assault to make themselves known.

"The change in the law is bringing serious offenders to justice.

"We were able to demonstrate that epilepsy was sustained as a result of the assault."

A police spokesman said: "This is a positive use of the legislation. It shows that beyond a year and a day you can, in law, link someone's death to an event that happened sometime ago."

The Year and a Day rule was changed in 1996 following a three-year campaign by the Northern Echo launched after the death of Michael Gibson 15 months after falling into a coma when he was punched during a night out in Darlington.

The campaign, launched with Michael's mother Pat Gibson, saw reporters take 6,000 letters of support from readers to the Law Commission. It gained the support of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Police Superintendents Association.

David Clark admitted grievous bodily harm and was given a two-year prison sentence, meaning he was freed before Michael died. The law was changed in February 1996.

Charles Ratcliffe's father, Ernest, aged 73, said: "I think The Northern Echo ran a good campaign to get the law changed. The system works better because of it.

"I lost a son and I know it won't bring him back, but Stephenson did kill him and he has got to pay for it."