A FORMER barman has been found guilty of killing his girlfriend who fell to her death from the roof of a multi-storey car park.

Shaun Foley, 45, was acquitted of the murder of Teresa Parkin, 29, on June 10, last year, but found guilty of her manslaughter.

Ms Parkin, originally from Colburn, North Yorkshire, died after falling 80ft from the car park in Torquay, Devon.

Ms Parkin’s family welcomed the verdict and said Foley had been brought to justice for his part in her death.

Judge Graham Cottle adjourned the case until Monday and said he would sentence Foley on the basis that he had not been provoked by Ms Parkin and he had not meant her to die.

The events leading up to Ms Parkin’s death were captured on CCTV at the car park, which showed the pair arguing and Foley striking her in the face.

Ms Parkin’s fall was not caught by the cameras as the pair moved out of view, but moments later a frantic Foley could be seen running back into view and looking over the wall of the car park.

Ms Parkin, who had a ten-yearold son, died at the scene from head, chest and back fractures.

Foley told police she had committed suicide because she was upset about her son saying he wanted to return to North Yorkshire.

But, while giving evidence in court, he said he could not remember the argument or her diving off the car park.

He said he had his back turned when he heard her say something and looked around to see her falling over the railings.

Foley was arrested later that day with a scratch on his face, which the prosecution claimed was Ms Parkin’s “last futile act of self-preservation”.

In a statement, Ms Parkin’s family said: “Teresa was our beautiful daughter; she was also a loving sister and a proud mother.

“Today Shaun Foley has been brought to justice for her death.

This is an important milestone for us which we hope will enable our family to move forward.”

Detective Inspector Mike West, the investigating officer in the case, also welcomed the verdict.

He said: “Foley has sought to evade justice by providing differing accounts of his actions, and, by claiming Teresa took her own life, has sought to absolve himself of any blame attached to her death, while putting a terrible strain upon her family.

“We do hope that the guilty verdict offers some sense of closure and that Teresa’s family can begin to rebuild their lives.”

After the verdict the jury was told Foley had a previous conviction for robbery dating back to February 1996 when he and another man robbed a Ken Warne supermarket in Chilton, County Durham, while wearing masks and holding knives, taking £2,000 in cash.

Foley, then a resident of Colburn, was found guilty after trial at Teesside Crown Court and sentenced to ten years in jail.

He also has convictions for dishonesty and burglary.