A NORTH-EAST man who killed his best friend with a single punch after a drunken row has been spared jail.

David Lilley, 36, hit his head on the ground when he was hit by Kevin King, 29, and died after suffering brain damage.

Hours earlier, the pair had been hugging each other celebrating an Alan Shearer goal as they watched Newcastle United on television.

King was so distraught at what he had done he tried to take his own life, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

Yesterday, Judge David Hodson said King's actions had "devastated" the lives of Mr Lilley's partner and their eight-year-old daughter.

But he said "exeptional circumstances" had prevented him from sending King to jail.

The court had earlier heard how Mr Lilley had enjoyed an afternoon watching football at King's house, in Maple Terrace, Shiney Row, Wearside, with two other friends.

The pair drank cans of lager before deciding to finish off their day with a pub crawl.

But the happy mood turned sour in a local pub.

Although King left the group and returned home, Mr Lilley, of Thirlmere Crescent, Shiney Row, followed him.

Witness Kevin Blewitt reported seeing the pair square up in the street.

John Evans, prosecuting, told the court how King punched Mr Lilley in the face sending him crashing to the ground.

Paramedics arrived at the scene and tried to resuscitate him - but he was already dead.

A post-mortem examination revealed he died as a result of the blow when he fell to the ground.

The death of Mr Lilley, an engineer, devastated his parents, partner Tracey Bolls and daughter, Megan, eight.

His family were not in court to hear the sentence after King pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

But in an emotional letter read to the court, King told them: "I would like to take this opportunity to express my sadness to David Lilley's family, especially to Tracey and his daughter Megan.

"David was my best friend. We had had a great day together watching the football. I cannot come to terms with what has happened and probably never will.

"They say that time is great healer and I just hope it gets easier, but when God took David he took a part of me."

Mitigating, Caroline goodwin, told how Mr Lilley's death had a profound effect on King, a factory worker,

He had become extremely depressed, suffered nightmares and eventually found it impossible to deal with the guilt of his actions and tried to hang himself.

He is still receiving psychiatric help and is on medication.

Judge Hodson suspended King's 12-month jail sentence for two years.

He said: "Your actions devastated Mr Lilley's partner, daughter, and the rest of his family. It also had a most serious impact on your own family - and the consequences for you personally have been profound and you will live with that forever."