Widnes student jailed for the brutal death of his love rival (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Widnes man jailed for 10 years for the death of love rival

12:36pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in News By Barbara Jordan

A WIDNES man has been jailed for 10 years for killing his love rival in a savage attack.

Paul Smith, aged 21, of Eversley, Hough Green, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court this morning after being convicted of the manslaughter of 23-year-old Alex Newcombe by a jury.

Sentencing him, Judge Elgin Edwards said: “This is an appalling case.

“You hounded this man to his death.You were the ring leader. You led a group, like a pack of animals.

“The absolute terror that Alex Newcombe must have been in when he was trying to get away. You thought it was amusing shouting after him: ‘Watch the fat boy run’.

“This kind of drunken yobbery will not be tolerated in a civilised society.”

Myles Wilson, prosecuting, described how Smith had chased Mr Newcombe in a jealous rage after he had contacted his ex-girlfriend.

He said Smith chased the victim onto a building site and struck him with a piece of wood.

The body of the victim, from Walton, who died from neck injuries, was found by a toddler in the back garden of a house in Birtley Court, Hough Green, on the morning of August 30, last year.

Smith, studying a sports degree at Liverpool University, had a promising career ahead of him, the court was told.

He has no previous convictions.