A MAN was jailed for five years yesterday after admitting killing a teenager by punching him once while high on a cocktail of drink and drugs.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Paul Smith, 18, of Thornley, near Peterlee, County Durham, died after being hit by John Norman, on September 8.

Norman, 28, now of no fixed abode but formerly of Barnes Road, Murton, County Durham, was originally charged with the murder of Mr Smith.

His plea of guilty to a charge of manslaughter was accepted by the prosecution.

He also admitted a charge of causing actual bodily harm on the same night to Steven Smith, older brother of Paul, and to two charges of common assault and one of affray dating back to July last year.

Christopher Knox, prosecuting, said the killing was the result of an "unprovoked and random" attack and that Norman had four previous convictions for violence.

He said Paul Smith, his brother and their uncle, Andrew Latham, had been at Thornley Cath-olic Club on September 8. All had been well behaved before leaving the club at closing time.

While walking near the junction of Dunelm Road Norman attacked Stephen Smith, whom he did not know, by punching him until he fell down, said Mr Knox.

When Paul Smith tried to help his brother he was punched to the head by Norman.

This blow, Mr Knox said, caused his neck to twist, rupturing the main artery which takes blood to the brain, and he died at the scene.

Norman, he said, had taken more than 30 Valium tablets, had injected a crushed-up Ecstasy tablet and had been drinking before the killing. Friends said he was being "aggressive and paranoid".

Mr Knox said the two charges of common assault concerned Norman attacking two cell-mates while being held in a police station, after being arrested for an affray, in Murton, in July.

Graham Reeds, for Norman, said his client was full of remorse for what he had done and had said his heart went to the victim's parents, and that if he could turn back the clock he would.

Mr Reeds said Norman had been neglected as a child and had turned to drugs as a result.

"It was not just the life of Paul Smith that has been destroyed. This young man's life has been destroyed too," said Mr Reeds.

"Yes, he has his life, that much is true, but he has to live with the consequences of what he did for the rest of it."

Judge Peter Fox, QC, said Norman had a "very bad history" for violence and was a danger to the public.