Grandad Paul Ainscough, who joined the police after 24 years in the Army, died from internal injuries the day after being pushed by his friend in an argument over food
A hero Grandad was killed after a row erupted with his pal in a pub beer garden over chicken wings. Paul Ainscough, 57, a former British Army Sergeant Major who later joined the police, died from internal injuries following an argument with his friend Liam Slack, 34.
The two friends had been out drinking in Leyland, Lancashire on June 22, and were both drunk by 7.30pm in the beer garden of the Stag pub, a court heard.
They began arguing after Slack grabbed at Mr Ainscough’s chicken wings having finished his own. Slack threw Mr Ainscough’s rucksack, before pushing him in his chest, sending him ‘flying’.
Mr Ainscough tragically died from internal injuries two days after he was pushed over. Slack has now been jailed for four years and two months after pleading guilty to manslaughter, reports LancsLive.
Preston Crown Court heard that Mr Ainscough was a ‘kind and generous’ friend to Slack, and would often lend him money. One witness told the court how Slack pushed his friend ‘clean over’, while another described Mr Ainscough falling backwards, knocking the table about a foot before hitting a stone step.
As Mr Ainscough got up after being pushed over, he said Slack ‘couldn’t hold his beer’ and that he wouldn’t lend him any more money.
As Slack left the pub he admitted to pushing his friend over, saying he ‘shouldn’t have done it’. He also admitted to pushed his friend over in a row about food later that evening when he shared a taxi to Chorley with two women.
Mr Ainscough told his partner about the argument when he returned home to Eccleston. The next day he received a text from his friend apologising, in which Slack said he was ‘properly in my face’.
Mr Ainscough disagreed, replying: “You were a right tw*t and grabbed my chicken. You attacked me and pushed me into a wooden fence, breaking my ribs. I could hardly move.”
The following morning, Mr Ainscough asked his partner to call an ambulance as he said he was suffering abdominal pains. He had appeared fine when she saw him the previous evening and she assumed he was feeling the effects of a hangover.
Around lunchtime she went to walk his dogs, leaving Mr Ainscough asleep on the sofa. But she found him unresponsive when she returned shortly before 4pm.
Emergency services rushed to the flat but Paul was pronounced dead. A post mortem confirmed he had three broken ribs and died from internal bleeding.
Slack, of Langton Brow, Chorley, heard news of his friend’s death and immediately feared he was at fault. In a police interview he admitted snatching Paul’s food and throwing his rucksack. He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Sentencing Slack, Judge Robert Altham said: “Mr Ainscough was a kind, generous and thoughtful man who was well regarded by those who knew him. He had a proud past, having served in the Army for 24 years before joining the police. What a proud and precious life to have been taken by such a thoughtless act of violence.
“When you learned of Mr Ainscough’s death you immediately feared your actions might have been the cause and you expressed regret. Your use of alcohol is troubling.
“You knew that in drink you had a tendency to become aggressive. The fact you were drunk is an aggravating factor, as is the vulnerability of Mr Ainscough.” He said Slack showed ‘genuine and immediate remorse’ and the attack was not premeditated.
Mr Ainscough’s partner and his son and daughter were in court for the sentencing.
In a victim impact statement, Paul’s son Mark said: “Our Dad/Paul was our hero and the person who loved us more than anyone in the world. He was a proud granddad, he adored his grandchildren and used to love seeing them, buying them gifts and sharing stories with them about his time in the army.
“Our dad was a Regimental Sergeant Major in the British Army where he served his country for 24 years with courage and honour.”
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