A WIRRAL man who killed a drinking pal over a paltry £10 debt has been jailed for five years and four months today.

Joseph Inglesby had warned his friend, grandfather Robert Higgins, that there would be "repercussions" if he did not repay the debt and when he spotted him walking down a street a week later he jumped off a bus to confront him.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that when 61-year-old Mr Higgins said that he did not have the money Inglesby punched him once to the face causing him to fall backwards hitting his head on a metal shop shutter.

As he lay apparently unconscious on the pavement in Prescot Road, Tuebrook near The Derby public house Inglesby was seen by passers-by rummaging through his pockets demanding his money.

He then pulled Mr Higgins, whom he had known for 25 years, into a sitting position before dropping him and he again banged his head, said Gerald Baxter, prosecuting.

Inglesby left the scene but a shopkeeper, who had phoned the police, followed him and pointed him out to officers when they arrived.

The unconscious victim, who had suffered fractures to his skull and face, was taken to hospital where he showed signs of improvement the next day, July 31 last year but then deteriorated and his life support was switched off on August 14.

When questioned 38-year-old Inglesby, of Poulton Road, Wallasey, said he was a former professional boxer and had punched him once because he owed him money.

He added: "I gave him fair warning of what would happen if he did not pay."

He claimed Mr Higgins, described as a friendly man who would never pick a fight, came towards him, saying: "If you are going to give me a crack, give me a crack" and he hit him in self-defence and regretted it.

The court heard that he did not find any money on his victim but took a pair of spectacles which were found on him when arrested.

The victim's widow, Maureen Higgins, said in a statement how the family felt they were living in a nightmare. "It was a deeply cowardly attack on a man who was old enough to be his father."

The judge, Mr Justice Edis, QC, told Inglesby, who had pleaded guilty to unlawful killing, that it was a bad case of manslaughter involving "premeditation and determination."

"You carried out this attack in a public place against a man much older than you, all of that for only £10. Apart from that he had done nothing wrong at all and certainly nothing that deserved what you did to him."

Ian Whitehurst, defending, said Inglesby, regretted his actions.