A man has been jailed for five years after pushing a man who later died from brain injuries. 

David-lee Conlan was being verbally abusive towards a woman outside the Boars Head pub in High Street, Dunmow, on April 8 last year.

Kieren O’Rourke, who was acquainted with people who knew the woman, attempted to intervene but was pushed by Conlan, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head.

One of the woman’s relatives then attempted to also step in but Conlan punched him in the face, breaking his nose and a tooth.

Mr O’Rourke was taken to Broomfield Hospital and later transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

From his hospital bed, he was able to tell an officer he could not remember the confrontation or assault and that his next memory was waking up in hospital.

However, he was in and out of consciousness while speaking to the officer.

Tragically the 42-year-old from Dunmow died on April 18 as a result of a brain injury.

Conlan, 31, of Childs Lane, Stansted Mountfitchet, was arrested and charged with Mr O'Rourke's manslaughter and causing actual bodily harm to a 40-year-old man from Tyne and Wear.

He admitted both charges when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday, May 3.

Conlan, was sentenced on Thursday, May 24, to five years for manslaughter and 12 months for the assault, to run concurrently.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr O’Rourke’s mother, Yvonne O'Rourke, said: “Kieren has been cruelly taken from all his family and friends.

“Whatever sentence Mr Conlan received is not going to bring Kieren back.

“We all face the future without him. It’s us that have a life sentence.

“I would like to thank the people of Dunmow for all their support and respect.”