A 16-YEAR-OLD boy who launched a fatal sneak attack on a Wirral man has been convicted of manslaughter.

A Liverpool Crown Court jury unanimously acquitted Peter Billington of murder but found him guilty of unlawful killing on Friday.

The Recorder of Liverpool, Judge David Clarke, QC, told Billington that custody was inevitable but adjourned sentence for three weeks to enable a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

He remanded him in custody and as he was led away to the cells, Billington's mother, who had been sitting with him in the dock, began to weep.

During the two-week trial, the court heard how Billington, of Old Barn Road, Poulton, Wallasey, attacked 22-year-old Anthony Hallas in Bishop Road, Wallasey, at about 11pm on April 4. Mr Hallas had chased him and a friend after they had tried to start a fight with three other boys.

Mr Hallas was left lying in the road in a pool of blood after being felled from behind by 'two mighty blows' with a broom by Billington.

Such was the force of the blow that the broom broke into three pieces. Billington then stamped on his defenceless victim's face at least twice, leaving a shoemark impression, said Mr Richard Isaacson, QC, prosecuting.

Mr Hallas, the father of a young son, died on May 2, despite treatment at Arrowe Park Hospital.

The other 16-year-old boy who had been with Billington was cleared earlier last week after the judge ruled there was insufficient evidence. He cannot be named, but the judge ruled that Billington could be identified.

Billington had claimed that he struck Mr Hallas with the broom to protect himself and his friend.

The broom snapped with the first blow to Mr Hallas's face and he hit him again with a what was left of the brush, he said. He denied stamping on his face.

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