A TEENAGER has today been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after admitting an assault on a Parkgate pensioner who later died.

Eighteen-year-old James Crawford pleaded guilty at Warrington Crown Court to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

A Cheshire Police investigation was launched in February this year when 67-year-old Alan Corney died in hospital.

He had been assaulted by Crawford, from Gresford near Wrexham, after confronting him and another youth regarding their unruly behaviour on the Parade at Parkgate on November 14 last year.

Crawford admitted causing grevious bodily harm by headbutting the pensioner who had been enjoying an evening stroll with his wife near to their home.

Alan Corney collapsed at home a few weeks later and it became apparent he had sustained a significant head injury as a result of the assault.

He never regained consciousness and died on February 6.

Crawford was arrested on March 4 after a media appeal for help in identifying those responsible for the attack resulted in an overwhelming response from the public.

Passing sentence today, Judge Stephen Clarke said: "Alan Corney was a gentleman of the old school and Crawford behaved in an extreme fashion, in a mindless act of violence causing him a grave injury."

Judge Clarke added that "society has lost the ability to respect each other" in reference to Crawford's "drunken, and uncontrollable behaviour".

Detective Inspector Andy Smith of Cheshire’s Major Investigation Team who led the inquiry, said: "This has been a complicated and challenging investigation for my team.

"The support from the public was crucial in tracing Crawford and I'd like to pass on the gratitude of Alan's family.

"This type of offence is rare in the community of Parkgate and it is reassuring to know that the offender has been jailed.

"I hope that today's sentence will help bring a degree of closure to Alan's family and help them begin to rebuild their lives after this sad and tragic loss of a husband and father."